Baltimore World Trade Center

Located on the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, the Baltimore World Trade Center is the world's tallest equilateral five-sided building (the five-sided JPMorgan Chase Tower in Houston, Texas is taller, but has unequal sides). It was designed by the firm of the famous architect I.M. Pei, with the principal architects being Henry Cobb and Pershing Wong. [Dorsey, John & Dilts, James D., "A Guide to Baltimore Architecture" (1997) p. 65. Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, Maryland ISBN 0-87033-477-8] The building was completed in 1977 at a cost of $22 million.

The building was positioned so that a corner points out towards the waters of the Inner Harbor, suggesting the prow of a ship. [Dorsey, John & Dilts, James D., "A Guide to Baltimore Architecture" (1997) p. 64. Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, Maryland ISBN 0-87033-477-8] Perched at the Harbor's edge, the building appears to rise out of the water when viewed from certain vantage points. Giant floodlights in the base of each of the Center's five recessed corners can dramatically illuminate the building at night from the ground up, with oversized parabolic mirrors at the top of the five corners then reflecting the light outward in brilliant V-shaped beams. The "beacon" effect was loosely inspired by lighthouses found along the Chesapeake Bay. This signature lighting scheme can be seen in the Baltimore skyline from significant distance under most weather conditions, but it is greatly diminished when one or more of the floodlights are burned out, obstructed, or imprecisely aligned with the companion mirror(s). Additionally, the floodlights must all be fully powered and the mirrors must be cleaned to remain equally reflective. The floodlights are turned off at approximately 11:00 PM.

The Baltimore World Trade Center has an observation deck, called "Top of the World," that is open to the public during daytime hours. During the summer, the Center sponsors "Saturday Sunsets at the Top" featuring live music by local jazz artists. The landmark tower also houses the headquarters of the Maryland Port Administration as well as hosting office space to numerous companies and several state agencies.

Following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, for several months additional protection was given to the Baltimore building due to the similarity in their names. The giant exterior floodlights were turned off and remained dark until the end of 2007. The waterfront walkway beneath the building, an extension of the Harborplace promenade, is now only open to the public during daylight hours. Hurricane Isabel flooded the lower floors of the Baltimore World Trade Center in September 2003; the building remained closed for clean-up for more than a month after the hurricane struck.

The building is owned by the State of Maryland. As a result, there are often public discussions on whether it should be sold whenever a new state budget is up for approval.

Status:

Finished: 1977

Floor Count: 32

Height: 123.5 m (405 ft)

References

ee also

* The Pentagon
* World Trade Center (Manhattan)
* September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

External links

* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=118986 Baltimore WTC stats]