Data Science Buildings

About the project

Johns Hopkins University is constructing two new academic buildings on the university’s Homewood campus that will house classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and collaborative workspaces for the new Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute (DSAI) – a groundbreaking interdisciplinary effort bringing together experts from across the university to conduct research in engineering, medicine, public health, and other fields.

Construction of the two buildings is expected to begin in early 2026 and will conclude in 2029, creating an estimated 4,490 jobs in Baltimore City over preconstruction and construction phases. By 2029, the project will generate more than $505 million in net new economic impact within Baltimore City alone and more than $800 million across Maryland.   

The data science buildings on the Homewood campus are part of the Whiting School of Engineering and used for education and research; they are not a data center, and they will require no more electricity than a typical academic building. 

As part of the project, Johns Hopkins is upgrading nearby city-owned infrastructure at no cost to taxpayers, including increasing the capacity of public stormwater management systems to reduce runoff, installing new streetlights, curbs, and sidewalks for the neighborhood, and planting over 300 trees – including 57 trees on city property along Remington Avenue, Wyman Park Drive, and 31st Street. 

Through more than 15 meetings over the past two years, the university has heard from neighbors and incorporated public feedback into the design and construction of the buildings, including measures to reduce disruption to the community and protect Stony Run.  

Jump to a section below for construction updates, to learn more about the project, public involvement in the design process, and the positive impact it will have for the community and Baltimore.

Questions and comments can be submitted here and a member of the project team will get back to you within 48 hours. 

Information about Development and Construction

Johns Hopkins is committed to being a good neighbor and has engaged the neighboring community throughout the design process, conducting 15 community meetings since 2023 to solicit feedback and answer questions.

Responses to community feedback include:

No building entrances on Remington Ave adjacent to homes There will be no building entries, retail space, or vehicular entries for the south building on Remington Ave, eliminating a potential source of congestion. The pedestrian entrance to the southern building will be on Wyman Park Drive. 

Community Request  Response 
Reducing building size, less excavation, and shorter construction timeline  In January 2025, the overall size of the two data science academic buildings was reduced by one-third from the original plan of 690,000 square feet down to 465,000 square feet. This included the removal of underground parking that would have required excavation of an additional 80,000 cubic yards of earth.  Removing this component will greatly reduce truck traffic and accelerate construction completion.
Increasing distance from the road    Following community feedback, the plan was updated to shift the southern data science building further from homes on Remington Ave. The average distance between the building and the JHU property line is 55 feet.   
Larger landscape buffer   Landscaping between the southern building and Remington Ave. will include multiple layers of trees and shrubs to form a buffer between the building and the road.   
Minimize traffic disruption  Two-way traffic will be preserved on Remington Ave. during construction. Trucks delivering materials to the site will use a temporary access point in the right-of-way adjacent to the road.  

The university is prioritizing environmental stewardship and sustainability in the DSAI project and has taken the additional step of hiring outside environmental experts to ensure Stony Run is protected during and after the construction.

Here are two helpful presentations that provide baseline environmental reporting data of Stony Run and information on slope stabilization and stormwater management.

Enhancing Baltimore’s Tree Canopy

Three Times More Trees Than Today

Johns Hopkins will plant more than 300 new trees as part of the project, including 57 new trees on city property. When the project is complete, there will be over 200 more trees on the project site and the adjacent city streets than there are today, significantly adding to the tree canopy. 

Johns Hopkins has listened to community feedback and worked closely with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, as well as third-party arborists, to ensure the fewest number of trees are being removed. On university property, 66 trees will be removed and 262 will be planted. 

In order for the university to upgrade the stormwater management systems in the neighborhood to handle heavier rainfall and to ensure safe access to the construction site, 9 trees on Remington Avenue and 21 trees on Wyman Park Drive will be removed. 

  • These will be replaced by 11 new trees on Remington Avenue and 19 new trees on Wyman Park Drive, each of which will be at least 25 feet tall at the time of planting.  
  • 17 additional new trees will be planted along 31st Street where there are none today, and 10 additional new trees will be planted at locations to be determined by Baltimore City.  
  • The university has worked closely with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, as well as third-party arborists, to select species of native trees that thrive in an urban environment and create shade.

Protecting Stony Run During and After Construction

  • The data science buildings are being built entirely within existing Johns Hopkins property – and they will be set back at least 20 feet from the edge of the forest conservation easement and at least 50 feet from Stony Run Park. No construction will take place within the park or the forest conservation easement, and no trees will be removed from the easement.  
  • Temporary stormwater management and runoff protection measures will be in place and will be monitored throughout the construction project, as required by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works. 
  • As part of the project and in response to the community, the university engaged outside environmental consultant, Steward Green, to perform a wildlife inventory and conduct water quality monitoring of Stony Run throughout the project to ensure that runoff protection measures are working correctly. 
  • Baseline data collection is currently underway and will be shared with the city to support ongoing conservation efforts within Stony Run Park.

Through the DSAI construction project, Johns Hopkins make upgrades to the city infrastructure in the neighborhood at no cost to taxpayers, including:

  • New stormwater infrastructure will replace the existing, outdated systems that are unable to keep up with the high volume of rain produced by intense storms today.
    • The removal of nine trees along Remington Ave. is necessary in order to install a new stormwater line to better manage rainwater volume and reduce storm surge runoff in the neighborhood.  
  • City sidewalks and streets affected by the project will be replaced in better condition than they are today, with wider tree beds to ensure the health of the trees over the long term. Curb cuts at the intersections will be upgraded to improve ADA accessibility. 
  • The university is installing approximately 30 new city streetlights in the neighborhood, improving public safety and walkability for all members of the community. 

Johns Hopkins Facilities and Real Estate will share bi-weekly construction updates over the course of the DSAI project. Updates will be posted at the end of the week for the following one or two weeks of work, depending on logistics. All plans are subject to change. All questions may be submitted using the ‘Submit an Inquiry’ form below.

DSAI Site Work | Wednesday, May 6 – Wednesday, May 20

  • Excavation Operations
  • Chilled Water and hot water line work on the interior of the site.
  • Utility installation on Wyman Park Drive.
  • Support of excavation operations including drilling of soldier piles.
  • Additional site surveying.
  • Removal of light poles on Wyman Park Drive.
  • Site demolition. Demo may include sidewalks within the bounds of the construction site.
  • Test pit work.
  • Public and residential parking on 31st Street may be temporarily impacted if unscheduled deliveries occur. JHU and Whiting Turner Mahogany understand the importance of limiting this impact. Deliveries typically take less than 30 minutes.
  • Saturday work will occur, but is lighter.

Remington Avenue Site Access 

To preserve two-way traffic on Remington Ave. throughout construction and ensure safety for the community and workers, a material delivery access point will be established in the parking lane and right-of-way along the east side of Remington Ave. immediately north and south of Wyman Park Drive.  

Wyman Park Drive Closure and Detours 

Wyman Park Drive, from Remington Avenue to Carnegie Way, will be closed from the start of the project until 2029. Pedestrian access between Remington Ave. and the campus will generally remain open until July 2026, with occasional, temporary closures for construction needs or safety. 

Detour routes have been directed and approved by Baltimore Department of Transportation; signs will be posted on nearby roads to help drivers find the best routes alternate routes and traffic safety officers will be available to help direct traffic and avoid backups.  

A map of suggested alternative routes is available below and the road closure will be updated on most navigation and mapping apps. Additional maps can be found here. 

 

Early Learning Center 

The Early Learning Center will remain accessible by foot and vehicle until July 2026. At that point, the current Early Learning Center building will close and the center will move to its new, state-of-the-art childcare facility at the corner of University Parkway and San Martin Drive.  

Contractor Parking 

Construction work will occur Monday – Saturday beginning at 7 a.m., although Saturday work may be lighter. Construction workers and subcontractors are required to park at Eastern High School. 

Permit Approvals

Under Baltimore City regulations, the construction of the two data science academic buildings on the existing Johns Hopkins campus complies with the underlying zoning. Johns Hopkins has also worked closely with the city and state to ensure compliance with all environmental and approval processes and permitting requirements. 

Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) Project 2025-006
  • Approval Date: 6/16/2025
  • The approval covers work on both private property and in the public right-of-way.
  • This included the project’s preliminary approach to tree removal, including street tree removal.
Temporary Use of Right-of-Way (ROW) Permit (MOT) for Remington Ave parking lane and sidewalk closure ROW-25-374
  • Approval Date: 6/13/2025
  • This permit allows JHU to temporarily close the Remington parking lane and sidewalk and establish a temporary construction loading zone in this area for the duration of the project. This permit includes tree removal.
Baltimore City Natural Resources (BCNR) Approval for site demolition and mass excavation BCNR-11567
  • Approval Date: 11/21/2025
  • The approval covers work on both private property and in the public right-of-way, includes approval of street tree removal, and allows for all construction mobilization activities and mass excavation for the project.
Developer’s Agreement (DA) DA1954-C
  • Approval Date: 12/22/2025
  • This agreement covers the temporary closure of Wyman Park Drive and associated work in the public right-of-way.
  • Additionally, this includes utility improvements in the vicinity of Wyman Park Drive and Remington Ave.
Temporary Use of Right-of-Way (ROW) Permit (MOT) for Wyman Park Drive closure ROW-25-391
  • Approval Date: 12/23/2025
  • This permit corresponds with DA1954-C, allowing for the temporary closure of Wyman Park Drive for construction activities, as well as utility improvements in the right-of-way.

 

Community Meetings

If you have questions about the construction of the two DSAI academic buildings, want to share feedback, or need support with transportation or detours, please contact us through the form below.

Submit an inquiry about the DSAI project