UMBC seeks contractor for $159.4 million student services building

UMBC is seeking architecture and engineering services for a new student services building on its Hilltop Circle campus, a project tied to a $159.4 million price tag and to student-support offices now scattered across the university. The building will send work to designers and contractors while changing where students go for help with daily campus business.

The Maryland General Assembly’s capital budget analyses show the project’s cost estimate has moved over time. In the FY 2025 analysis, UMBC’s New Student Services Building was listed at $188.360 million. In the FY 2026 analysis, the same project was pegged at $161.088 million, with $4.910 million shown in 2030 and $6.002 million beyond the capital improvement program. The earlier analysis showed $5.903 million beyond CIP.

A solicitation on BidNet Direct for architecture and engineering services had a publication date of July 22, 2025 and a closing date of Aug. 22, 2025 at 2 p.m. EDT. Maryland Bid Network posted an updated request for proposal for architecture and engineering professional services with a bid date of Aug. 22, 2025 at 2 p.m. and a prebid meeting on July 29, 2025 at 10 a.m. One bid listing put the project budget at $133 million and completion at 52 months.

The university has been “very busy transforming and expanding” over the past decade, with residential additions and renovations among the changes already completed. State capital support from Maryland is a key part of funding new or renovated facilities, and annual operating funds support student services, academic support, institutional support and public services.

Student Business Services is on the third floor of the Administration Building, while other student-support functions are spread across campus. The university's pipeline already included a $94 million renovation of a 120,000-square-foot academic building in 2023.