The Maryland School for the Blind | Multiple Disabilities & Blind Cottages and Academic Building

The Multiple Disabilities & Blind Cottages and Academic Building project was delivered by Lewis Contractors as part of a broader campus improvement effort supporting The Maryland School for the Blind’s long‑term vision for education, independence, and residential care. Serving as Construction Manager at Risk, Lewis Contractors joined the project team early in design development to provide cost modeling, scheduling, constructability reviews, and value engineering aligned with MSB’s campus‑wide master planning objectives.

The project included construction of a new Academic Building and a new Residential Cottage designed specifically for the school’s Multiple Disabilities‑Blind Program. Working closely with Ayers Saint Gross, Lewis Contractors supported the development of facilities envisioned as integral components of the MSB campus environment—supporting both daily instruction and long‑term student development. The Academic Building was planned to accommodate approximately 60 students and included multiple dedicated areas for independent living skills development. Interior layouts featured wide circulation paths, adaptable teaching spaces, and specialized fixtures to support multiple wheelchairs, physical therapy equipment, and assisted movement, reinforcing MSB’s emphasis on accessibility, dignity, and independence.

The Residential Cottage was designed as a supervised living environment that balances a residential character with complex care requirements. The building includes shared bedrooms with highly specialized accessible bathrooms, common living and dining areas, a teaching kitchen, and private quarters for on‑site staff supervision. Service and mechanical areas were carefully separated and accessed to support daily operations without disrupting residential programming.

Construction was performed on a fully occupied campus serving a highly vulnerable student population, making safety the defining constraint of the project. Lewis Contractors implemented safety measures well beyond standard institutional practice, including physical barriers in place of signage, escorted equipment movement beyond construction limits, and dedicated spotters along campus walkways and access roads. All work was executed in accordance with an MSB‑specific Safety Manual developed in coordination with school leadership and campus protocols. Utilities were connected to existing campus systems while maintaining uninterrupted service.

Site improvements included demolition of an existing building, construction of a new loop access road, and coordination of campus infrastructure enhancements supporting long‑term circulation and access goals. The project achieved a Baltimore City Green Building two‑star rating, equivalent to LEED Silver. Through close collaboration with Ayers Saint Gross and campus stakeholders, Lewis Contractors delivered the Multiple Disabilities & Blind Cottages and Academic Building as a purpose‑built extension of MSB’s campus vision.