Towson Armory To House University's New Uptown Offering

TOWSON, MD — Towson University plans to expand its presence in downtown Towson. The university on Friday announced it will create a space for partnerships and programs in the former Maryland National Guard Armory building on Washington Avenue in the heart of Towson, near the county government campus and the under-construction Towson Row development.

University offices focused on community engagement and outreach, entrepreneurship, continuing education and workforce development will be housed in the armory building, according to a statement from Towson University. A coffee shop and cafe are also part of the proposed project, which the university has partnered with Greenberg Gibbons to bring to fruition.

“We are excited to partner with Towson University for the adaptive reuse of the Armory building,” Brian Gibbons, chairman and CEO of Greenberg Gibbons, said in a statement. In addition to the armory, the company is developing Towson Row in conjunction with Caves Valley Partners. Towson Row, adjacent to the armory building, will include 80,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space; 150,000 square feet of offices and student housing; a hotel; and luxury apartments.

“Towson Row and the Armory are a catalyst for the transformation of Towson and will create a new heartbeat in the community and Baltimore County," Gibbons said in a statement.

The Armory building is owned by Towson Row. It was constructed in 1933 and offers high ceilings and an open floorplan. Towson University has entered into a long-term lease with Greenberg Gibbons and plans to move into the space in 2020.

"The Armory building gives TU a true home in the bustling, uptown area of our county seat," Towson University President Kim Schatzel said in a statement on Friday, March 29, when the plan was unveiled. "I'm excited to see new partnerships created and existing partnerships re-energized as critical conversations for our region unfold inside the walls of this historic space."

The idea is to create a venue for regional leaders to come together with students, faculty and staff, she said.

Its move into the Armory building also aligns with the university's vision of driving growth in the greater Baltimore region.

“By expanding its reach into the downtown core, Towson University is demonstrating its role as an anchor institution by spurring economic development while creating a sense of place and community,” County Executive Johnny Olszewski said in a statement. “I applaud Dr. Schatzel for her vision and I look forward to having the Towson University Incubator as a neighbor.”

Rendering shows what interior renovations to the former Armory building might look like, courtesy of Greenberg Gibbons via Towson University. Video of the announcement of the new public-private partnership by Towson University/YouTube.