Dear UMBC Community,

I write today to share important updates about the renovation of Sherman Hall, including changes to walkways happening at the start of next week. As of Monday, October 13, 2025, the contractor will close the access gates to Academic Row, and Phase 2 renovation work will begin.

The first phase of renovations—constituting the West Wing (formerly known as the “A Wing”) of the building, closest to the ITE Building, and the area connecting the two wings—is now complete and fully occupied.

The sidewalks on the ITE side of Sherman Hall have been fully reopened, and the newly-renovated portion of Sherman Hall is accessible from the ITE side of the building and from the upper University Center plaza (second floor), which adjoins the new main lobby to Sherman Hall. The main lobby of Sherman Hall is where the open-air breezeway was between the UC and Sherman courtyard.

All occupants in the East Wing (formerly known as the “B Wing”) of Sherman Hall have now been relocated to temporary spaces in order to begin Phase 2 of construction. This means we will now close Academic Row between the Sherman and Sondheim buildings. This sidewalk will be closed from October 13, 2025, until January 2027. Diverting pedestrians from this pathway will keep them safe from the construction activities during Phase 2 renovations. We are asking pedestrians to go around the side of Sondheim closest to the RAC; an accessible route has also been created through Sondheim Hall. The contractor will also be protecting the tall oak trees (considered "legacy trees" because of their longevity with our campus community) along the closed route.

During the closure, emergency vehicles will be allowed through the fenced construction work zone if needed. Delivery vehicles should be notified to use alternate routes including Commons Drive (behind ILSB to The Quad), 220 (the upper sidewalk between ITE and “New” Sherman) or Hilltop Road around the drop-off circle to the area between the Fine Arts and Meyerhoff Chemistry buildings.

As with Phase 1, the contractor will be removing the entire brick facade from the building, which will be loud and disruptive. We will do what we can to forecast the level of disruption and try to contain the most noisy work early in the morning; the next three weeks will be unusually noisy until about 3 p.m. The noise will be generated from work on the south side facing the Admin Building and on the north side facing the UC Plaza. These activities are critical to the schedule and need to occur. Facilities Management will continue to monitor and provide updates. Please check the lefthand side of the front page of the Facilities Management website for continuing information on this project, and please work with your manager to identify the appropriate options for your work schedule (telework, flexible schedule etc.).

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation thus far. In particular, we would like to thank the occupants of Sherman Hall. You have supported the project and each other in many ways including sharing space and other resources. Your support has helped make the project successful.

Sincerely,