The Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation purchased a two-story, 34,000-square-foot warehouse to develop studio space for visual artists, in keeping with its mission of creating safe, affordable and accessible space for Baltimore’s creative community. STV provided civil engineering design during the rehabilitation of the former distribution warehouse into creative studio space, named “Open Works.” The design addressed water quality controls and impervious area reductions as required to procure a redevelopment waiver for the site located within the Jones Falls watershed. Exterior improvements included the redesign of the parking lot and sidewalk layout and installation of a new timber deck and other site furnishings. The vision for Open Works is to be an accessible working studio for photographers, graphic designers, sculptors, weavers, fiber artists, fashion designers and fine furniture makers. Maker spaces allow multiple users to share equipment they couldn’t otherwise afford, such as laser cutters.