Honoring legacy through design at Bowie State University

Architect: Perkins&Will

Account Manager: Katie Ciani

Categories: Bespoke, Education

Photographer: Lincoln Barbour, Halkin Mason, Kate Wichlinski

Rep Group: Ketchum & Walton

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Lounge area of Bowie State University, featuring a mural of Martin Luther King Jr. made with Custom Print Cube™ in Herald.

Blending history, acoustics, and design at Bowie State

The project

When Bowie State University, the oldest HBCU in Maryland, began its construction on the new Martin Luther King Jr. Center, their goal for the facility was to create a space that focused on visibility, connectivity, and storytelling while inspiring students to harness the power of their voices to shape the future.

As a hub for the Communications, History and Government, Language, Literature and Culture Studies, and Military Sciences departments, the facilities were meant to promote connection and interaction between students—a dream that led to a 192,000-square-foot facility featuring cutting-edge technological amenities, expansive collaborative spaces, and two commemorative Autex Acoustics® feature walls highlighting Martin Luther King Jr. and BSU Alumnus Lieutenant Richard Collins III.

Glass-enclosed study room and hallway with Composition Rolls in Stonewash, Atlantis, and Muralla.

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A mural of Lt. Richard Collins III made of Custom Cube™ in Herald at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center.

Enhancing the education experience with acoustics

For this project, Autex Acoustics delivered several standard and custom acoustic solutions, primarily aimed at tailoring the space for optimal sound performance. The center, which features several collaborative spaces, media production studios, and a large-venue auditorium, was treated with Composition ^® wall coverings, Cube ^™ acoustic panels, and Frontier ^™baffles in a myriad of colors to address both functional and aesthetic goals—enhancing visual appeal while aligning with the historical and commemorative themes of the building.

“Choosing Autex was a great solution in providing compelling aesthetics combined with long-term durability and maintenance,” said Carl Knutson, design director at Perkins&Will–Washington, DC. “We selected the product because of the high level of student and community traffic, the ability to subtly highlight special areas within the public spaces, and to reduce maintenance and foot traffic wear for a long-lasting university environment.”

This sentiment echoed the design’s intent to create an inspiring and functional space. “As a modern college environment, the space needed to foster creativity and inspiration, putting students in the right frame of mind for success,” said Paul Gardener, Ketchum & Walton project manager. “The acoustics needed to be spot-on to ensure the space was not only functional but also an inspiring place to learn and grow.”

A hallway in Martin Luther King Jr. Center at Bowie State, featuring a student on her laptop, with Composition Rolls in Lime, Jade, Gherkin.

Composition® Rolls in Lime, Jade, and Gherkin

Top view of the lounge area at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Bowie State University, showcasing modern stairs, a mural of MLK Jr. in Custom Print Cube™ in Herald; along with Cube™ ½ 4-inch strips in Flatiron, Empire, and Senado.

Cube™ ½ 4-inch strips in Flatiron, Empire, and Senado; and Custom Print Cube in Herald

Additional info

Tailoring soundscapes with meaningful murals

A close-up of the a mural of Martin Luther King Jr. made with Custom Print Cube™ in Herald.

In addition to innovative acoustic solutions for practical use, Autex Acoustics designed two commemorative murals—one featuring Martin Luther King Jr. with soundwaves from his Nobel Prize-Winning “I Have a Dream” Speech and the other BSU Alumnus Lt. Collins, whose life was tragically taken shortly before his graduation in 2017—that served to highlight the contributions of both individuals to students and the community through acoustic design.

“We did the mural of Dr. King at the podium to commemorate him in our product,” said Fernando Vallero, Autex Acoustics production and design manager. “The façade included a waveform of his voice, symbolizing courage and progress. The wider areas are darker, creating a detailed silhouette. The mural of Lt. Collins was similar and ended up nearly two stories high.”

From the project’s inception, the Perkins&Will team challenged the Autex Acoustics design team to see the space as more than just a physical structure, encouraging them to use graphic elements throughout communal areas to offer a tribute to the power of ideas and using one’s voice to create change—something emblematic of Martin Luther King Jr.’s ongoing legacy.

“We experimented with different colors and materials to find the right tones, both in terms of color and highlighting the general themes of the space,” said Adrian Carillo, Autex Acoustics design consultant. “It was a big team effort, with lots of people and changes, but we eventually figured it out.”

Commemorating a legacy with acoustic design

A close-up of a mural of Lt. Richard Collins III made of Custom Cube™ in Herald at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center.

The second mural, a two-story installation honoring Lt. Richard Collins III, was designed to commemorate the legacy of a late student—one whose life was tragically taken shortly before his graduation, and whose memory is honored by both this mural and a new course, “Hate Crimes in the US: What Lt. Richard W. Collins III can teach us about History, Hope, and Healing,” offered at the University of Maryland. The mural, which features Lt. Collins’ likeness printed as a silhouette on Cubepanels, serves as a visual reminder of the legacy of the Lieutenant and the Collins family, who created a foundation in their son’s honor and continue to advocate against hate-motivated violence across the country.

“Lieutenant Collins’ father said it looked just like his son’s likeness, which was satisfying to hear,” said Adrian Carillo, Autex Acoustics design consultant. “It’s a huge compliment when family members appreciate it—it means we did our job right.”

You can learn more about the 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III Foundation, as well as the Maryland scholarship created in his honor on the Bowie State University website.