Latrobe House was named for John H. B. Latrobe, who wrote the charter for MICA. During that time, it was known as The Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts. Today, Latrobe House is a residence hall, and houses the new Office of Residence Life.
Twenty-two year-old John H. B. Latrobe was a painter, inventor, author, and lawyer when he wrote the charter for the school that would eventually become MICA. The Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts was created when the charter was approved by the State of Maryland on January 20, 1826, and eventually became the school known today. From the beginning, the charter called for the school to be a place of invention. Latrobe House is designed as a social area for receiving guests. It is also the new home for the Office of Residence Life.