For years, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has been synonymous with the larger story of redevelopment and transformation in the city. Once a bustling port, then a symbol of urban decline, it’s now a landmark of urban renewal that is not only shaping Baltimore’s skyline but also its spirit.
STV’s recent contract with MCB Real Estate to provide site design for Harborplace, a $500 million redevelopment that will bring a vibrant, mixed-use destination to Baltimore’s waterfront, is just the latest example of our team’s long-standing support and partnership in improving this historic district and creating generational change within the city.
The original Harborplace, which opened in 1980, is considered by many to be central in bringing people back to the waterfront, sparking a renaissance of civic pride. Within a year, the National Aquarium – now one of the most visited attractions in the United States – opened nearby, along with several other public spaces, pedestrian walkways, museums and restaurants.
Historically, STV has played a key role in several of these initiatives, whether its providing site design services for the adaptive reuse of a high-rise grain elevator and silo structure into a luxury mixed-use development at Silo Point or repurposing the 30-acre Gunther and National breweries in east Baltimore at Brewer’s Hill.
More recently, STV provided design, permitting and construction administration services for one of the largest urban renewal projects in the United States, Baltimore Peninsula, a 235-acred mixed-use neighborhood in South Baltimore. Featuring 2.5 miles of restored waterfront and 40 acres of publicly accessible parks and green space, this undertaking stands to have a far-reaching impact on Baltimore, its economy and its future. Chapter 1B, the first major phase of the project which was completed in 2023, includes public infrastructure to support 15 new city blocks. Our work facilitated the design and construction of pedestrian, bus and bicycle facilities; innovative stormwater management systems; dark sky-compliant lighting; and landscape architecture.
In each of these scenarios – and many more – STV has approached our role in the spirit of placemaking – the collaborative process that inspires communities to reimagine their public realms. We understand the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit. And our multidisciplinary team of planners, engineers, architects, advisors and program and construction management experts can support this dynamic a myriad of ways. Our team can help clients and community members navigate complex regulatory improvements, including for brownfield clean-up, critical area restoration and tidal and nontidal flood plain mitigation. We are also sensitive to the often historic architecture throughout the Inner Harbor, and look to deliver programs that meet modern needs while honoring Baltimore’s own place in history.
The vision for the new Harborplace is centered on authenticity and community, aiming to create a vibrant and inclusive waterfront development that reflects Baltimore’s spirit and diversity. The project spans 20 acres around the Inner Harbor and includes more than 18 acres of public space, featuring parks and a new promenade along the harbor’s edge. The remaining area will accommodate four proposed new buildings, including offices, shops, restaurants and two residential towers housing 900 apartments, making this redevelopment one of the city’s most significant undertakings in decades.
Our team is providing entitlement services, civil engineering, landscape architecture, permit processing and construction administration services. We also previously supported the master plan for this project, providing horizontal infrastructure planning and design services for the public spaces and proposed new buildings.
This new Harborplace marks yet another ripple effect in this more than 40-year journey for the area. Today, the Inner Harbor stands as a symbol of Baltimore’s resilience, creativity and ability to reinvent itself in the face of change. As the city continues to evolve, the harbor remains its heartbeat – inviting locals and visitors to experience the past, present and future of Baltimore in one scenic stretch.
