Johns Hopkins University - Chemistry Building

Baltimore, MD

Mason Contractor: Baltimore Masonry, Inc.
Architect: Ballinger

Project Description

The JHU Chemistry Building is located on the Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltimore. The Architect utilized masonry details from the 19th century so that the new chemistry facility would match the adjacent buildings. A new parking garage was included in the scope of this project and also blends in with its surroundings. As you stroll the University campus it is hard to distinguish the old from the new.

The entire façade is a wood molded brick, laid in flemish bond pattern with a grapevine joint. Jack arches, and cast stone accents help to replicate the era of the surrounding buildings. A cast stone watertable accentuates the buildings base, and the huge chimneys add character to the roof. All of the exterior walls are CMU back-up with cavity insulation, and an air barrier system.

The flemish bond, grapevine joint, arches, and the air barrier system tested the skills of the bricklayers, but they performed the task masterfully. The project included 275,000 standard size facebrick, 800 square feet of cast stone, and 33,000 CMU.

The JHU Chemistry Building is a remarkable achievement in both design and craftsmanship.