Previously a symbol of a booming industrial economy in Baltimore, the Bethlehem Steel Mill at Sparrows Point once employed 30,000 people, pushing Baltimore city’s population to more than 1 million in the 1950s. The site slowly receded over time, as did the industry, and most recently was home to a number of abandoned buildings. The area, with access to rail, interstates and a seaport, was ripe for redevelopment, reimagining and a strong vision. Enter Tradepoint Atlantic—now a 3,100-acre industrial site.
To reflect the significance of this redevelopment and the commitment to this project, the Tradepoint Atlantic team and its brokerage partner, Chicago-based JLL, enlisted Gensler, a global architecture and design firm, to design a $1.3 million state-of-the-art marketing center. Playing on the transformative power of shipping, the modern, media-enhanced marketing center is housed in 1,400 square feet of office space built using upcycled shipping containers from New York-based SG Blocks.
The center serves as a dedicated space where developers and JLL brokers can share their vision for the area. The lobby hosts an exhibit on Sparrows Point history, adjacent to an interactive touchscreen display, which features customizable presentations, maps and information about the site. The public entranceway is flanked by two conference rooms, a small private office and a restroom.
“Tradepoint Atlantic is quickly becoming recognized as one of the most strategically located and important multi-modal, multi-commodity terminals in North America. Its positive economic impact will be felt far beyond the immediate site, as it once did in its storied history,” says Mark Levy, executive managing director, JLL. “The new marketing center reflects not only the future impact of the area, but also pays homage to the past.”
PHOTOS: Robert Severi