Johns Hopkins University is moving forward with plans for a $196 million data science and computing center in East Baltimore aimed at expanding the university’s research and artificial intelligence capabilities.
On Wednesday, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved a $9 million grant for the project without discussion, providing state support for what Hopkins envisions as a major investment in advanced computing infrastructure.
The new facility will support life sciences, biomedical research and large-scale data processing initiatives tied to the university’s growing focus on artificial intelligence and computational science. Officials say the center will work in conjunction with Hopkins’ forthcoming Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute planned for the Remington neighborhood.
The university intends to construct the approximately 25,000-square-foot facility at 5400 E. Lombard St., on the site of the existing Advanced Research Computing at Hopkins facility. The current data center, which totals just 3,786 square feet, is located on a corner of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center campus in an industrial section of East Baltimore bordered by highways and rail lines.
Hopkins’ broader expansion into data science and AI comes as universities nationwide race to strengthen computing infrastructure amid surging demand for artificial intelligence research capabilities and federal research funding opportunities.
Once completed, the East Baltimore facility is expected to significantly expand the university’s ability to support data-intensive scientific research while reinforcing Baltimore’s role as a growing hub for life sciences and technology innovation.
Written by: Three E Staff
