For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Governor Wes Moore Joins Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke to Begin Innovative Mixed-Use Development to be Anchored by the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing

Governor Wes Moore joined Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke, and University of Maryland leadership today to announce the selection of Hines as the master developer for the North Bethesda Metro Station site—a 13.9-acre North Bethesda joint development adjacent to the rail station. This development is the future home of the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC) and a transformative hub for life sciences and artificial intelligence innovation. This announcement marks a major milestone in a long-term vision to create a world-class, transit-oriented development that connects Maryland’s economic strengths in biotech, computing and federal research with dynamic new housing, jobs and public spaces.

“More than five years ago, I approached University of Maryland about bringing graduate level research using AI to drive drug discovery and medical research to Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Executive Elrich. “At the same time, I approached WMATA about developing the North Bethesda metro site as a life sciences center to be anchored by the Institute for Health Computing. It was important to be located at a metro station on the 355 corridor, close to NIH and other critical life science assets. We are creating an environment rich in collision spaces where scientists can meet, gather, share their ideas and advance their work. We are designing something that will attract the kinds of businesses that will drive high-value growth in our County and strengthen our profile nationally in the life sciences field. I want to thank WMATA and the University of Maryland for seriously examining my ideas and making a decision to move forward. I also want to thank the Governor and the many elected officials who have also supported this effort. We are glad to see Hines, with a reputation for successful life science development, as the development company selected to carry this out.”

“Together, we are transforming North Bethesda into a hub for innovation, opportunity and growth,” said Gov. Moore. “Our administration is confident that this redevelopment project will ensure that the Red Line won’t just help commuters get from North Bethesda to where they want to go, but it will help bring people from all over the capital region to this community. Today, we celebrate the beautiful future for this community, one where Maryland families can get from where they live to where opportunity lies; where the State of Maryland is a national leader in science, technology, engineering, and math; and a future where our state is the model for creating new jobs, building more housing, and leaving no one behind.”

“I couldn’t be more excited about what this development is going to mean for Montgomery County, Maryland and Metro,” said Metro’s Clarke. “North Bethesda will be a model for life-sciences-anchored transit-oriented development around the world, creating new transit users and connecting people to economic opportunities. This development project wouldn’t be possible without the outstanding support of our local and federal partners, to whom we are extremely grateful.”

Click here for full news release from the Montgomery County Government