Montgomery College, State, and County Officials Celebrate Opening of New Catherine and Isiah Leggett Math and Science Building

This afternoon at Montgomery College’s (MC) Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, MC President Jermaine F. Williams, County Executive Marc Elrich, along with state and county leaders including Senator Ben Cardin, marked the grand opening of the Catherine and Isiah Leggett Math and Science Building, a state-of-the-art facility designed to revolutionize STEM education in Montgomery County and the state of Maryland. The cutting-edge building will equip students with essential skills for high-demand careers that will fuel the workforce and boost the economic vitality of Montgomery County.

In honor of their philanthropic support, the building is named after former County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett and his wife Catherine. College and county officials say the Leggett’s dedication to the College and its students has been instrumental in making this project a reality.

"We are privileged to be here today and appreciative of the leadership of so many thoughtful leaders," Mr. Leggett said. "This is a collective effort; you don't create buildings like this overnight... And our former First Lady, she was the first volunteer, the first leader, the first giver. Most importantly, she is the first in my heart." 

Said Mrs. Leggett, "Ike and I are incredibly elated and thankful for the naming. It is incredibly humbling to be a part of this, a building that will have thousands of students in it... Ike and I try to espouse hard work. We try to embody the values we ere taught [as children]. This is humbling and we are incredibly grateful. To [former MC president] Dr. Pollard and everyone who helped bring this building to fruition, this is a day we will remember forever." 

On September 3, Montgomery College students began their fall classes in the new space, benefiting from an environment tailored for success.

"This facility will open doors for all students, as it has for me," said Grace Kigo, a biology major at Montgomery College and an aspiring cardiologist. "MC has had a profound impact on my life and the opportunities align with my passion. I am currently taking classes in the Leggett Building. The modern labs provide us with hands-on learning opportunities, and I know the Leggett Building is a place to dream, to innovate, and to create a better future."

Spanning 108,000 square feet over three stories, the Leggett Building boasts 20 advanced labs, eight versatile classrooms, a planetarium, a math and science learning center, a cybersecurity center, an atrium, and a greenhouse. These facilities provide an unparalleled educational experience, preparing students for high-wage careers as Maryland’s future engineers, cyber technicians, nurses, and other vital STEM professionals.

"The graduates who come from these classrooms and labs will increase innovation and bring greater imagination to industry sectors in our county and across our state," Williams said. "Because of [state, county, community] support, at this STEM facility students will be prepared for jobs that provide family-sustaining wages. And with your leadership, we are continuing to open the doors of opportunity to grow the talented workforce Maryland needs... Thank you for your commitment to MC and our students, and for working diligently to help the College in modernizing this entire campus, one of Maryland's first community college campuses."

Acknowledging Catherine and Isiah Leggett, Williams said, "We know the Leggetts as two individuals who stand out for their public service, their commitment to this county and our state, and the overall betterment of society. Their lifelong commitment to education has left an indelible mark."

The Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, one of Maryland’s most diverse college campuses, offers quality instruction in over 100 disciplines to more than 7,800 students from over 140 countries. The new Leggett Building enhances the campus, home to the College's health sciences programs and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and Community Arts.

"This college is part of an ecosystem, along with the Universities at Shady Grove, to have a pipeline from community college to four-year universities," Elrich said. "[MC and USG] train STEM professionals to fill the positions that companies will need as they come and expand in the county."

Highlights of the Leggett Building include:

Planetarium: Features 100 movable seats under a tilted 30-foot dome, showcasing stars, nebulae, galaxies, Layered Earth simulation software, and 360-degree virtual reality video and sound.

Labs:

• Four general chemistry labs
• Two organic chemistry labs
• Three anatomy and physiology labs
• Five biology labs
• Three microbiology labs
• Two physics and engineering labs
• One environmental ecology lab with a greenhouse
• Networking lab
• LAN room
• Four computer labs

Reflecting the College’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the building is designed for LEED Silver certification with sustainable features such as:

• Resilient green building design
• Energy-efficient operations
• Seven new stormwater facilities, including rain gardens and bio-swales
• The planting of 101 new trees across 23 species, alongside shrubs, flowers, and groundcover to enhance habitat value for insects and birds, primarily using Mid-Atlantic native species

The Washington, DC-based integrated design firm, SmithGroup, led design of the Leggett Building with extensive and valuable input from the community. As part of the design process, the College partnered with LINK Strategic Partners and hosted a series of planning meetings (charettes). The charettes created a communications pathway for neighbors, faculty and staff, community members, students, the City of Takoma Park and other stakeholders to collaborate with designers on a vision for the building that balanced the needs of students, neighbors, and fiscal prudence.

When groundbreaking began on the new building in 2019, Barton Malow, the primary construction contractor, and LINK Strategic Partners along with the College hosted a series of project update forums to keep the community informed and to address questions.