Union on Knox elevates the living experience for University of Maryland students through functionality, flexibility, and aesthetic appeal.
Project Details
Location: College Park, Maryland
Developer: Greystar
Architect and Interior Designer: WDG
Builder: John Moriarty & Associates
Opened: July 2024
Number of Units: 341
Unit Mix: Studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and four-bedrooms
Rents: $1,576 (average)
Developed by Greystar with architect WDG, the 341-unit campus-adjacent development sits at a critical intersection between the historic South Campus and downtown College Park. The design team transformed a challenging topographical site with a 20-foot elevation change by turning the constraints into a design strength. The monumental stair that connects campus to street level becomes a functional yet dramatic architectural element. The building sets itself apart with a bold, contemporary material palette of black and white fiber cement panels with dark bronze accents.
“Union on Knox not only provides a thoughtful array of interior community-building spaces for its 800 students but also strengthens the Lehigh Road gateway via a new monumental stair that reinforces connectivity between the campus and the downtown College Park retail district,” says Robert C. Keane, AIA, managing principal at WDG.
Anice Hoachlander
Residential floors, which offer studio to four-bedroom floor plans, feature both open and enclosed study spaces. The ground floor’s transparent design reveals amenity spaces like the fitness center and lobby, encouraging socialization. The outdoor courtyard, cabana, and artificial turf provide flexible recreational opportunities, while the warming kitchen and outdoor grill area acknowledge students’ desire for social dining experiences. In addition, residents have access to a dedicated Twitch room for gaming enthusiasts, study spaces with mock-up boards, and a package room.
Sustainability is also integrated into the building, which was completed in time for the 2024-25 academic year. Strategies include thermal bridging, stormwater management, and a carefully controlled glazing percentage that enhances energy performance without sacrificing architectural expression.
