Hopkins Announces Gibbs Center for Innovation, Opening Fall 2028

Named for renowned physical chemist and Hopkins alumnus Josiah Willard Gibbs, Class of 1854, the building will primarily serve the applied sciences. It will be located between Thompson Hall and the Malone Science Center on the quad’s south end. Features include a 2,500-square-foot research center for the Hopkins Authentic Research Program in Science (HARPS), a new design and competition studio for robotics, and a multi-room suite for computer science. However, it also includes many non-scientific facilities, such as a digital, domed immersive theater, a centralized Academic Support Center, an exhibition hall, additional classrooms, and student common areas.

The Gibbs Center supports the larger goals of Hopkins’ five-year strategic plan called “Hopeful Youths.” The plan’s mission is to “develop [student] intellect, character, and commitment to serving others,” according to Gwen Evans, President of the Hopkins Committee of Trustees. She elaborated that the new building will not only “accelerate our ability to promote deep academic learning,” but also “provide hands-on experience” to students while supporting “all members of our school community.”

The center will also help ensure campus facilities keep up with Hopkins' growing Science Department. Glendinning said that the department has “outgrown its home,” a sentiment corroborated by several members of the Hopkins community. Director of Robotics and Physics Teacher Lynn Connelly noted that “robotics has grown tremendously.” During her nine years of teaching at Hopkins, “the program grew from 10 to well over 100 students.” HARPS student Nikhi Vallabhajosyula ’27 also noticed this rise in STEM interest at Hopkins: “The number of AP Physics C and AP Chemistry students has grown so much in just the last three years.” This year, the courses have three and four sections respectively, a record high at Hopkins.

Robotics also faced similar struggles. Currently, Connelly both teaches physics and keeps robotics parts in her classroom, stating that “it’s very hard to do [both] in one place… everything ends up piling on top of one another.” Robotics student Jamie Ganter ’27 noted that “more organization is definitely needed. Materials are everywhere.”

The new building will serve more than just STEM students at Hopkins. According to Glendinning, the building is “more than just labs and studios,” providing the “opportunity for every Hopkins student to become an innovator, researcher, and problem-solver.” Chair of the Science Department Phillip Stewart indicated specific aspects of the building which “any discipline can take advantage of,” such as the “Academic Support Center, the greenhouse and community garden, the digital theater, and more.” Connelly highlighted that robotics necessitates an interdisciplinary space, as there are many other aspects like “marketing, finance, and web design.” When building a robot, “you’re building almost a little business… so [Gibbs] really is a multi-disciplinary project area.”

Members of the Hopkins community shared what they’re most excited for about the Gibbs building. Vallabhajosyula said he looks forward to its functioning greenhouse, as “it’d be really interesting to grow and work with plants hands-on.” He acknowledged that “the domed immersive theater sounds really fun, too. You could see anything from the stars to, like, ancient Rome.” On the other hand, Robotics student Christina Feng ’28 looks forward to the building’s support of robotics, commenting that with the new building’s “competition studio and expansive design… there’ll be a lot more efficiency and freedom to experiment with our robots.” Connelly expressed relief that robotics will finally have “a dedicated testing space” at all: “Right now, we have to use the Malone atrium.”