Howard seemed to be busy upgrading parts of campus over the summer. Here are photos of the new and improved spaces at the university. 

Alain Locke Hall, Armour J. Blackburn University Center, and the Undergraduate Library are a few of the buildings that have gotten a facelist. The upgrades feature Howard’s colors, red and blue, with additional spaces for students to hang out between classes. 

“I think that the renovations were well-needed and look great! It's nice to see our tuition and donations go towards beautifying our campus. Due to the changes, I think we will see an uptick in students spending more time on campus and studying,” said Anaija Cooper, a junior health management major. “I feel that the renovations will elevate our experience by giving us aesthetically pleasing, modern places to congregate and work on our studies, which I feel is important,” Cooper added.

In 2022, the University announced that it would invest $785 million toward constructing and upgrading several buildings on campus. Howard’s 2020 Central Campus Master Plan is structured to improve campus life, expand academic priorities, and strengthen the university financially. 

The student organization hallway in the Armour J. Blackburn Center.

“This is a watershed moment in the history of our institution. The leadership of our board and executive team, along with the caliber of students we have enrolled, the illustrious faculty we have assembled, the dedicated staff we have hired, and the committed alumni base we have cultivated, presents an opportunity for us to solidify Howard’s status as one of the preeminent institutions of higher education in the country,” Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, the president of the university whom the newly renovated undergraduate library is named after, said in a statement about the investment.

The plan includes three phases to ensure the best outcome ofresults for the campus: Discovery, Exploration, and Synthesis. The Discovery phase was an attempt to understand the layout of HU through assessment and data gathering. The Exploration phase focused on creating different scenarios to address the needs and goals of the university. The final phase, Synthesis, is focused on refining and expanding the strategies for the proper construction plan. 

Ankhusmet Lynch-Wade, a senior media management major, is pleased with the makeover across campus.

 “It’s great to see new improvements to the look of the campus. Hopefully, they start renovations to other buildings as well to give them a fresh look.  I am most looking forward to seeing if they use any of these renovations to treat seniors to something nice for their last year,” she continued.

Some of the revamping is complete in time to welcome the class of 2027 to their new home. However, the campus plan will not be fully executed until 2026.