Baltimore City Public Schools Virtual Ribbon-Cutting Celebrates Opening of the Walter P Carter and Lois T Murray Elementary / Middle School

A new 814-seat school, located in the Baltimore Wilson Park neighborhood, the Walter P Carter (WPC) / Lois T Murray Elementary / Middle School is ready for students!

The new building, designed by Newman Architects with JV partner Penza Bailey Architects, provides a welcoming 21st-century learning environment for Walter P Carter students and is co-located with the Lois T Murray special needs school. To ensure the design fulfilled the needs and desires of the school community, Newman worked closely with students, teachers, faculty, and members of the Wilson Park neighborhood to create a space for both the students and community to thrive. The result was a flexible, technology-rich, and inspiring learning environment complete with a dance studio, media center, technology lab, and outdoor amphitheater. The Wilson Park community will enjoy the building's shared-use spaces as well as new dedicated space for the neighborhood's community organizations.

This project was a part of Baltimore City Public Schools' 21st Century School Buildings Program, which aims to renovate or replace inadequate school facilities. Nick J Mosby, Council President of the City of Baltimore, described the impact that Walter P Carter / Lois T Murray Elementary / Middle Schools will have on the community: "Our 21st-century schools are huge opportunities to not only allow our children to learn, grow, and achieve but also revitalize our communities."

We also heard from current students and the Principal of Walter P Carter on the far-reaching impact of this program, from more space to fit students and accommodate different learning styles, to better access to technology, so students can interact with other students across the globe. Providing students with functional and inspiring educational environments foster future success.

"We need schools like this so we can become further leaders of Baltimore or the World. A 21st-century school gives each student an opportunity to choose their path."

"...with this new superb facility, along with our dedicated staff, we will deliver our programs in an environment that is truly geared and attuned to 21st-century learners and their very specific educational needs. I would like to mention that collaborative space, which will allow us to create an atmosphere where students can feel relaxed and comfortable in smaller environments while working independent of the teacher, which allows learners to really become independent leaders of their own learning – truly student-centered learning."

We're excited to see students, teachers, and the Wilson Park community enjoy this new space for many years to come.