University of Maryland Pyon-Chen & Johnson-Whittle Residence Halls & Yahentamitsi Dining Hall

A new neighborhood of the Pyon-Chen and Johnson-Whittle residence halls and the Yahentamitsi dining facility creates a unified home for the University of Maryland Honors College, its largest and most prestigious living-learning community. Together, the residence halls include 900 beds, creating a more balanced mix of student accommodations near dining, classrooms, study and collaboration spaces, and offices for University Honors faculty. The focus of the 1,200 seat dining facility is the holistic nourishment of its 5,000 daily users, while reducing landfill waste and achieving high sustainability standards.

The two new residence halls have been named in honor of former students who broke racial barriers at the university. Pyon-Chen Hall, which opened in 2021, honors Pyon Su and Chunjen Constant Chen. In 1891, Pyon became the first Korean student to receive a degree from any American college or university. Chen was the first Chinese student to enroll at the Maryland Agricultural College. Johnson-Whittle Hall, which opened in 2022, honors Hiram Whittle, the first African American man to be admitted to the university, and Elaine Johnson Coates, the first African American woman to graduate with an undergraduate degree.

Photos: © Keith Isaacs

  • Architect Ayers Saint Gross
  • Owner University of Maryland
  • Location College Park, MD
  • Categories Higher Education, Residential