Project Description
Vacant for 25 years, The Centre was a long-forgotten structure on a desolate thoroughfare in the heart of Baltimore. Now fully restored, with its historic 1939 illuminated marquee, it is an iconic presence in the resurgent Station North Arts District. This landmark development provides shared spaces for companies and non-profit organizations working to make Baltimore a better place. It also provides a key programmatic space for the JHU/MICA Film Center, a ground-breaking collaboration between the Maryland Institute College of Art and Johns Hopkins University.
The Centre embodies the history of North Avenue in the 20th century. Design for the renovated building restored the historic exterior and created a flexible interior for various tenant configurations. The redevelopment honors the building’s past by restoring its marquee and main facade to their 1930’s theatrical splendor. The remainder of the facades are restored to their 1913 configuration, when the building was a Studebaker automobile dealership. This includes opening large windows that had long been blocked. A new modern lobby is discretely integrated behind the historic marquee to provide access to the various tenant spaces, while also allowing the old building to comply with modern building codes.