The 114-year-old building that houses the
Johns Hopkins University Press has a modern new look after a $4.1 million, two-year renovation.
The changes include new art and book displays, modern glass doors, a public space to hold author events, and infrastructure upgrades. Jack Holmes, director of development for JHU Press, says the building renovation gives the historic building a modern touch.
"It's a mix of old and new. It's just cool to see that."
Many of the office doors were replaced with frameless, frosted glass.
The 27,000-square-foot building, which dates to 1897, is a former church that went through a complete overhaul when the press moved in 1993.
The renovations also include an upgrade to its IT system and HVAC.
"There was a practical need to refresh the office after 15 years," Holmes says.
Press officials also wanted to use the renovation as an opportunity to better display its work with modern shelves holding books it has published.
Billed as the nation's oldest university press, JHU Press publishes 60 scholarly journals and nearly 200 new books every year. Baltimore's
Read & Co. Architects, which has spearheaded more than two-dozen Johns Hopkins projects, designed the renovation. Baltimore's
Plano-Coudon LLC served as the general contractor.
Writer:Julekha Dash
Sources: Jack Holmes, JHU Press; Read & Co. Architects