Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center Marks the Next 150 Years

Story by Nancy Grund

It has been called a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Maryland family, a monument to the many achievements of university alumni and a tribute to the man whose vision and generosity have given all Maryland graduates a new home. The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center opened its doors this spring and the accolades and alumni visitors just keep coming. Enter the Alumni Hall and view the words of the Alma Mater and the names of the center’s most dedicated supporters etched in the limestone walls of the magnificent marble-floored rotunda. Walk the halls and enjoy the Rever Alumni Hall of Fame, the Maryland Club, the Chaney Library and so much more. Nestled close to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and Byrd Stadium, not far from Comcast Center, the newest landmark on campus is but the latest jewel in the university’s crown.

“The Riggs Alumni Center project holds a special place in my heart. Architecture should be contextual and we designed the alumni center to fit in with its surroundings, as challenging as it is to be in context with the nearby football stadium. The Alumni Hall has a temple-like quality and sits adjacent to the office complex designed to reflect the architecture of Baltimore rowhouses, all of it overlooking an inspiring garden.”

—Architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen ’51, ’93 (honorary doctorate), is the creative genius behind the center.

I became a lifetime member of the alumni association the year I graduated. This center provides a wonderful place for alumni to reconnect, to entertain and to learn more about the achievements of fellow classmates.”

—A. Ford Hall ’68 named the stained-glass ocular of the University of Maryland globe in Alumni Hall.

“My fellow classmates, and soon-to-be alumni, were surprised and elated to see their new home. As the first class to hold a class ring ceremony, one of the first events at the alumni center, we understand more than ever the importance of maintaining connections and upholding the university’s growing reputation.”

—Sabrina Smith ’05, a President’s Scholarship recipient and member of the Senior Council, addressed students and guests at the university’s inaugural class ring ceremony at the Riggs Alumni Center in May.

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