CENTERS at Johns Hopkins University
Overview
Johns Hopkins University opened its first-ever student center, the Bloomberg Student Center (BSC), in the fall of 2025, a project more than a century in the making. Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) and CENTERS were engaged in 2023 to develop a business plan for the BSC. CENTERS began pre-opening services in 2024 and transitioned to leading operations in spring 2025. Reporting to Student Affairs, CENTERS oversees the full- and part-time operating team staff, partnering closely with Student Affairs, Hopkins Dining, and Scheduling and Event Services to bring the 150,000-square-foot facility to life.
Designed as the campus living room, the Bloomberg Student Center includes a 220-seat theater, Ralph’s Marketplace, a food hall featuring local favorites, Mo’s Place, a full-service restaurant, the Creative Media Center (CMC), drop-in maker studios, multipurpose event and rehearsal rooms, and a dedicated reflection room. The BSC’s Student Engagement Hub will be home to more than 400 student organizations. The center offers a wide range of reservable spaces for student groups, the campus community, and individual students. In addition, huddle spaces and maker studios are available through express scheduling. Designed by BIG and Shepley Bulfinch, the building incorporates mass timber, biophilic design, and stormwater capture systems with the goal of achieving LEED Platinum certification. CENTERS’ student-centered approach ensures this new hub will foster connection, creativity, and belonging for all students.
Facility Facts
- 150,000 GSF
- 220 Seat Theatre
- Food Hall with local vendors
- Restaurant & Café
- Creative Media Centers
- 2 drop-in maker spaces
- 13 Multi-purpose Rooms
- 3 Music and Dance Rehearsal Rooms
- Sound Studios
- Gaming Lounge
- Reflection Room
- Student Engagement Hub
- Outdoor Plaza
Eve Esch, Executive Director
Eve Esch is the Executive Director of the Bloomberg Student Center at Johns Hopkins University, where she oversees operations for the 150,000-square-foot facility and leads a team of full-time and part-time staff. She brings nearly 25 years of experience in student center management. Before joining CENTERS, she served for a decade as Executive Director of the Student Centers at the University of Houston, where she managed multiple facilities and led a team of 25 professional staff. Before that, she held several leadership roles at The Ohio State University’s Ohio Union, including during the planning and opening of a $110 million facility. Ms. Esch earned her Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University and her Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University. She is a longtime member of the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), where she has served on the Board of Trustees and co-chaired the international conference program. She is also the recipient of multiple honors, including ACUI’s Excellence in Innovation in Sustainability Award and the Beanie Drake Founders Award for service to the field.
