Center Plaza, part of Baltimore’s Charles Center, was a keystone of Baltimore’s downtown revitalization efforts in the 1960’s. One of Baltimore’s original “green roofs,” by the 1990’s the plaza had deteriorated into an unattractive, unused space that adversely affected the surrounding buildings. City leaders recognized the three-acre site served as a vital link between City Center, the West Side, and the Charles Street Corridor as more than 8,100 office workers, 2,000 residents, and 1,500 hotel rooms could be found within a one-block radius.

Mahan Rykiel Associates provided direction and built team consensus on various site and programming issues, and worked closely with the city to ensure that the plaza would be sustainable and maintainable. Mahan Rykiel Associates was at the forefront of all stakeholder meetings to discuss approach, materials, maintenance concerns, and design options. The goal was to create a successful destination space that would recapture the vitality and energy of the original vision for Charles Center, but would also introduce new elements to accommodate the changing downtown experience.

The $7.5 million plaza renovation has become the catalyst for other development and capital improvements in the area. The space is a desirable venue for numerous events such as employee appreciation days and lunchtime concerts.

AWARDS:
2009 Merit Award, Maryland/Potomac ASLA