$14M Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center project nears finish line: 'All-star facility'

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A historic project in West Baltimore is nearing completion.

What was formerly the Henry Highland Garnet School will soon be the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center at P.S. 103.

The restoration project will be named after a Civil Rights icon who attended the school.

“When the Supreme Court seems to be in the news every day, when rights seem to be challenged every day, we had the lawyer’s lawyer born in this community, who attended this school – Justice Thurgood Marshall,” Dr. Al Hathaway, President and CEO of the Beloved Community Services Corporation, said.

Hathaway states the building dates back to 1877.

“It was one of the early segregated public schools back in the 1900s,” he said.

The former school, according to Hathaway, sat vacant for at least 25 years after suffering a fire and falling into severe disrepair.

On Thursday, the building buzzed with activity as crews completed finishing touches on the restoration project.

Hathaway told FOX45 News the amenity center will be a hybrid facility, aiming to engage people of all ages through learning opportunities, events and lectures.

“We’re bringing these value-adds to this community that will enrich it, that will educate it, that will stimulate it, but most importantly, will empower it,” Hathaway said.

The $14 million restoration project is coming to life through partnership with institutions including the University of Maryland’s Judge Alexander Williams Jr. Center for Education, Justice and Ethics, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, STEM City USA and the Elijah E. Cummings Archives.

Hathaway said the 13 month construction project included preserving historic parts of the building wherever possible.

The team also added an elevator and made modern upgrades to electricity, internet, heating, cooling, bathrooms and kitchen facilities.

“We had 33 different trades working on this site,” Hathaway said. “Over 300 people were employed as a result of this.”

Hathaway anticipates congressional action in the Spring to make the amenity center a National Park Service affiliate.

A grand opening is scheduled for July 2 – marking Marshall’s 116th birthday.

“This is what this community deserves,” Hathaway said. “It’s an all-star community. It needs an all-star event, and this is gonna be an all-star facility.”