Johns Hopkins Student Center
Baltimore, MD

The Bloomberg Center for Student Life is Johns Hopkins University's first dedicated student center. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group with Shepley Bulfinch and Rockwell Group, the 150,000-square-foot building sits at the edge of campus to connect with the Charles Village neighborhood. The building features flexible spaces and modern amenities that support everything from organized events to casual meetups. Animated by a series of sculptural chandeliers, the space creates a vibrant hub where students from all disciplines can gather and collaborate.

The pendant lights throughout the student center were designed by Jorge Pardo, a MacArthur Fellow known for transforming functional objects into colorful, sculptural works of art. His installations have appeared at major institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the Serpentine Gallery in London. For the JHU project, his playful approach transforms the multi-story atrium and dining areas into an immersive environment of light and color.

The resulting installation is a vibrant constellation of 85 pendant lights, each with a unique combination of colored glass. The pendants are suspended at varying heights overhead as floating sculptures. When illuminated, the glass comes alive—the shades transform in color, animating the atrium and the dining areas with glowing light. To bring Pardo's vision to life, Aurora Lampworks meticulously fabricated brass armature frames that enclose the colorful glass shades. 

Each pendant features over 64 solder joints, with the brass framework creating an organic structure around the glass elements. The pieces were engineered with discreet joinery to allow for future maintenance while maintaining their artistic integrity. Aurora's attention to detail ensured that each pendant met both Pardo's creative specifications and the building's practical requirements. The finished installation serves as both functional lighting and a permanent artwork that defines the Bloomberg Center's welcoming, energetic atmosphere.