If some buildings could talk, they would have some fascinating stories to tell. West Baltimore's PS 103, located in the historic community of Upton, is one such iconic building. Originally known as the Henry Highland Garnet School, it began as a segregated elementary school for African American children, where Justice Thoroughgood "Thurgood" Marshall was a student from 1914 to 1921.

Marshall, an American lawyer and jurist who fought for civil rights and was a prominent figure in the movement to end segregation in American schools. He also founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and became the first African American to take the oath of office as a Supreme Court Justice in 1967, serving until 1991.

Preserving History While Building the Future

PS 103 was built in 1877, operating as a school until it closed in the 1970s. Later, it re-opened as a community recreation center, providing office space to nonprofits before shutting its doors in the early 1990s. After sitting vacant for over 20 years, a fire nearly destroyed PS 103 in 2016. After replacing the roof and making structural repairs, the renovation of PS 103 began – with the intention to reclaim the building as a hub for education and community enhancement, where future generations could gather and learn.

Reaching New Heights: Innovation + Preservation

Building oversized walls in the historic building, while preserving its character was a major challenge for this project. Falkbuilt Washington DC by MOI came to the rescue, designing and delivering furred McNally solid walls, built with offsite precision cut components, that once installed on sturdy steel Super studs, measured over 13 feet tall and 23 feet long. Massive, recessed LCD displays, spanning more than 6 feet by 15 feet were seamlessly integrated.

Conventional construction could not have achieved these results. Falkbuilt prefabricated solutions allowed for:

• Full Project Clarity: Falkbuilt’s technology, Echo integrated with Revit to provide seamless connectivity + full project visibility from design to manufacturing, through to installation – the single source of truth for all stakeholders that significantly streamlined the decision-making process.

• Seamless tech integration: Oversized LCD screens were integrated into the Falkbuilt wall design, with generous wall cavities that enabled easy access for electrical and av techs to run wiring and perform future upgrades.

• Sustainability and adaptability: Finishes like super-sustainable Falkskin, DuraFalk, and back-painted glass create a sleek, timeless aesthetic, while also keeping full flexibility for technological integration, adaptability, and reuse in the future.

Historic Site Hopeful

The building's historical significance makes the project an important part of West Baltimore's heritage and there is currently an effort underway to turn the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center into a protected national historic site. This distinction would be a major step toward making Upton a cultural tourism destination and honoring the community’s relevance in the Civil Rights Movement.

A Beacon for Progress

What was once a segregated school now stands as a beacon of education, innovation, and empowerment—honoring the legacy of Thurgood Marshall. Falkbuilt is proud to have played a role in this project, which proves that when we invest in history, we support a strong future.

Photos: Alain Jaramillo