UCF 2118 East Madison Street

Ulman House is a first-of-its-kind healthcare hospitality house, designed specifically for adolescent and young adult cancer patients seeking treatment in Baltimore. When it opened in 2019, it filled a previous void that existed for cancer patients in the 15-39 year old age range who need life-saving care only available far from home: affordable, supportive housing close to two world-class cancer centers. People and community were at the heart of this transformational project, and incorporating LEED certification increased the facility's ability to enhance health for the cancer patients residing within it, and for the community in which it is nestled. Site selection was the first decision to incorporate LEED principles. The adaptive reuse of six dilapidated rowhomes enabled the block to retain its historic character, and the close proximity to Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center eased the daily travel burden of patients and even allowed for pedestrian or bicycle transportation. The Ulman House interior was designed with its future young adult residents in mind, prioritizing a youthful but not childish design, communal living spaces, abundant natural light, and materials free of toxins and harmful chemicals. Deconstruction allowed more than 90% of materials from the structures to be recycled, including reusing wood for new interior stairs, doors, shelves, and even a dining room table, around which many happy and poignant memories have been shared. Ulman House has been well-received by long-term neighbors, embraced by partner hospitals, and appreciated beyond description by residents. The hundreds of teens, young adults, and caregivers who have traveled from 15 states and have resided, free of charge, at the house as long as needed (more than one year in some cases!) appreciate knowing they have a safe, clean, green, friendly, and loving home to return to after a long day of cancer treatment.