The State of Maryland has a new six-story laboratory located in Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins, a 31-acre research hub north of Johns Hopkins Hospital in East Baltimore. The laboratory is home to Maryland’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DHMH) and will serve to protect the public against diseases and other health hazards.

Ashton Design was involved in designing the interior and exterior signage and graphics, artist plaques for the public art program, as well as developing the pedestrian wayfinding in conjunction with HDR, Forest City - New East Baltimore Partnership, MEDCO and DHMH. Ashton Design is proud to have been a part of this significant Maryland state project.

This new 235,000-square-foot facility will contain labs used to respond to disease epidemics, foodborne outbreaks and incidents of bioterrorism. It will replace the current 35-year old facility located at State Center. The LEED Silver building and laboratory facilities were designed by HDR and landscape design by Core Design Studio. An impresive 30 percent of the project budget included work from local business including Ashton Design and Inter Sign National, fabricator of the interior and exterior signs.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 22 will be attended by many dignitaries integral to bringing this project to life including Governor Martin O’Malley. About the new building, O-Malley stated, “The new public health lab will advance our goal of providing Maryland families the best public health service and protection that modern science and technology can offer. This state-of-the-art facility maximizes our abilities to protect the health and well-being of all Marylanders under a creative financing agreement that minimizes the cost to taxpayers.”

Below are some photos of the recent signage installation and construction progress.