SEAM Wrap up

Published by Dainel Kyabayinze and Seaira Hull 

 Seam wrap up

As the start out the new year, ready to take in the new challenge, we would love to that look back at what we were able to achieve in 2024 with the Seam project. Setting precedent for what more we can expect for our chapter in 2025.

The Seam campus was our submission for the NOMA Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition, which brought together a diverse group of students from more than 40 NOMAS chapters. This live-jury event, held October 25–26, 2024, at the annual traveling NOMA conference, is particularly meaningful for our chapter. Beyond showcasing our work to a national audience, we benefit from a dynamic lineup of guest speakers, workshops, and a robust career fair which go a long way in building our professional networks.

In the months leading up to the conference, our members collaborate across multiple class years, mentoring and learning from one another. It’s a unique chance to practice design thinking, hone time-management skills, and balance academic workloads with an intensive project. By working together on the design competition, we get to strengthen our sense of community, refine our collective vision, and ultimately enrich our educational experience. We a excited to announce that it now is current on display at Gould Hall!! We invite you to come check it out while it is still up.

Last year’s project, Highway to Healing: The Transformation of the West Baltimore I-40 Corridor, was a design proposal for a multi-modal transit center to address the systemic injustices endured by the West Baltimore community from the expansion of the U.S. highway system.

The Site

Our focus for this project was the I-40 corridor—infamously known as the “Highway to Nowhere”—a physical scar of the historic injustices that have impacted the West Baltimore community since the mid-twentieth century. Families, homes, and entire neighborhoods were removed for an incomplete stretch of highway intended to connect downtown Baltimore to the suburbs, largely in response to “white flight.” Over the years, numerous attempts to remove this highway and restore lost connections have been made, but they often resulted in unresolved conditions and unmet promises.

More specifically, the site sits at the westernmost end of the I-40 corridor, where it rejoins W. Franklin and W. Mulberry Streets. The site includes four surface parking lots, an existing bus transfer station, a vacant lot with a historic building (the American Ice Company), and the existing MARC train station. (A new West Baltimore MARC station is being developed and should be incorporated into the master plan.)

 

The challenge

The “Highway to Healing” response is to be a transit-oriented development (TOD) master plan that will be the epicenter of transportation,  development, and engagement in Harlem Park, Midtown-Edmonson, and the surrounding neighborhoods. With the proposal of a design for a new transit hub that addresses the needs and desires of the immediate community, provides an efficient  and effective solution to the addition of the Red Line through the I-40 corridor, and supports future inclusive and responsive  development.

A successful proposal would approach the project holistically—acknowledging the past while celebrating a bright, inclusive tomorrow—incorporating sustainable design, strong community engagement, and economic development as key priorities. The master plan also had to include the adaptive reuse of the former American Ice Company building, preserving its façade and major architectural elements in accordance with historic preservation guidelines.

Additionally, the master plan was required to accommodate parking for park-and-ride commuters while promoting alternative transportation options. Incorporating outdoor recreation spaces, complete streets, stormwater management, and phased construction were also core criteria for submission.

 

The response

Seam

In West Baltimore, the notorious Highway to Nowhere has long stood as a barrier to growth and connection. Seam, our “Highway to Healing” master plan, transforms this corridor into a transit-oriented development centered on inclusivity, sustainability, and economic revitalization. By weaving together the fractured pieces of Harlem Park and Midtown-Edmondson, Seam replaces the existing void with a vibrant network of public spaces, cultural amenities, and new mobility options.

A central design element is the Canyon, which repurposes the below-grade highway into an activated pedestrian promenade. The new Red Line runs beneath the Canyon’s banks, and direct access points from the promenade ensure seamless links to surrounding neighborhoods. Instead of dividing the community, this re-envisioned transit corridor stitches it back together. Meanwhile, the MARC West Baltimore Station, located on the western edge of the site running perpendicularly, complements the Red Line by facilitating regional commutes and emphasizing the area’s role as a crucial transportation node.

Flanking the Canyon banks are mixed-use developments collectively known as the Hive, where commercial, retail, and residential programs combine to form a dynamic urban core. Designed to be both walkable and bike-friendly, these interconnected buildings foster a live–work–play environment that draws residents and visitors to local businesses and cultural activities. Anchoring the historic character of the site is the adaptive reuse of the American Ice Company building, a century-old landmark preserved according to historic guidelines. This revitalized structure houses maker spaces, artist studios, and community programs—paying homage to Baltimore’s industrial past while infusing new cultural energy into the neighborhood.

At the eastern end of the site rises the Hill, a multi-tiered green space that accommodates parking below its landscaped terraces. This elevated zone provides opportunities for outdoor recreation, urban agriculture, and community gatherings amid native plantings and tree canopies. Stormwater management strategies are integrated into the Hill’s design, reducing runoff and contributing to a more ecologically balanced neighborhood. The Hill’s generous open space also serves as a connective tissue—inviting people to travel between the Canyon, the Hive, and adjacent residential areas.

Throughout the Seam campus, thoughtful planning tackles environmental, social, and economic challenges simultaneously. Green infrastructure—such as bioswales, permeable pavements, and rooftop gardens—helps manage stormwater and reduce the heat-island effect, while expanding green corridors enhance biodiversity. In addition, the master plan envisions phased construction to ensure continuity and minimize disruptions to the local community. Small-scale retailers and incubator spaces lower barriers to entry for entrepreneurs, offering pathways for local economic advancement.

Collectively, these elements create a holistic vision for West Baltimore’s future, one in which past and present converge to generate a new sense of place and possibility. Where once a highway disrupted communities, Seam offers a tapestry of connected neighborhoods, pedestrian-friendly streets, and cultural vibrancy. By embracing multi-modal transportation, historic preservation, and urban ecology, the SEAM campus stands as a beacon for equitable development—restoring lost links and forging a healthier, more inclusive Baltimore for generations to come.