Built in 1973, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Communications Arts & Humanities Building was an iconic hub of academic and campus life at Bowie State University, Maryland’s first HBCU. The MLK Building is etched in the foundational memories of numerous generations of students who attended classes and events there. It housed the Myers Auditorium, and the departments of Communications, English & Modern Languages, History & Government and Military Science (Bulldog Battalion ROTC program). This is where so many began their lifelong friendships and Bulldog affiliations.

Opened in the Fall of 2024 and boasting a 1,500-seat auditorium, two television studios, two radio station studios, a podcast studio, cutting edge classrooms, active learning and collaborative spaces, a new ROTC plaza and an amphitheater, the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Center carries forward that rich legacy of academic excellence and real-world learning by connecting students across various fields of study in a facility designed to inspire collaboration and interaction. The waveform patterns of Dr. King’s voice are repeated outside and throughout the new building, embodying Communication Arts and Humanities. A stunning two-story image of Lt. Richard Collins, III overlooks the second floor of the Student Inflection as a memorial and celebration of his life.

To celebrate the excellence and progress at Bowie State University while giving honor to all that has come before, we offer the BSU community an authentic commemorative brick from the original Martin Luther King, Jr. building. These bricks were hand selected and set aside before the demolition of the building.