New Baltimore Design School Opens Its Doors With Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- When school began Monday morning, hundreds gathered north of downtown to celebrate a first.
As Mike Schuh reports, the Baltimore Design School is the only one of its kind in the country.
It's typical to be lost on the first day of school and typical to get the class overview. But having the governor and the mayor on the first day? It comes with the territory when you're going to the only school of its kind in the country.
Everything you see--from scissors to lights to chairs--was designed by someone. This is a design school.
"We stress to them the importance, the significance, of where they are and what their work will have, not only on the city but across the nation, as well," said principal Nathan Burns.
This middle and high school is in a renovated historic Crown Cork 1915 warehouse, a place and curriculum championed by the nearby Maryland Institute College of Art.
"We really are about creating a design culture in Baltimore," said Fred Lazarus, MICA.
This parent sees the doors that will be opened for his daughter.
"Everything in this world, Mike, from your suit down to this building has been designed, and it's a great opportunity to learn how the world comes together," Lazarus said.
"This didn't happen because of Soho people, Portland people, Austin people. This happened because of Baltimore people, creative Baltimore people who want the best for our young people," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
Private developers built the $26 million school. That money will be repaid by the city and state in a lease-to-own deal over the next 30 years.
