Adaptive Reuse

The former Wolfe Street warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland’s historic Fell’s Point neighborhood was transformed into The Pennant – a new multifamily, waterfront community. McLaren Engineering Group worked with architecture firm, Hord Coplan Macht and general contractors, Chesapeake Contracting Group to provide structural and marine engineering services for this part adaptive reuse, part new construction residential complex. 

The planned 285-unit structure, developed by Elm Street Development, partially re-purposes the site’s two-story Wolfe Street warehouse. The conversion creates a parking garage, fitness center, residential entry, and storage space. Atop the existing structure, a three-story wood-framed vertical addition was erected. The add-on to the existing levels comprise of studio, junior one-bedroom, one-bedroom, one-bedroom and den, and two-bedroom units. These residential units are set back from the existing warehouse parapet per the goals of the Fells Point Urban Renewal Plan and feature private terraces.

New Construction

Part of the existing warehouse was razed and a 5-story, 307,500 sf wood-framed addition was erected on the existing foundations. The building houses a leasing center, main amenity space, and 23 new 4-story townhomes. McLaren designed the new construction at the razed existing building footprint to allow for the reuse of the foundations. The addition houses 20,000 sf of amenity space. This includes a courtyard, multiple community spaces, and lounges as well as a bike shop. Our team also developed drawings for a demolition bid package, to create room for this new space.

Additionally, McLaren designed new foundations for the proposed townhomes. The units reflect a modern use of similar styles found in the traditional rowhouse and industrial architecture in the historic district. Due to flood plain conditions caused by The Pennant’s close proximity to the water’s edge, one and two built-in rear car garages are on the ground level.

The urban community was built to National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Silver.

The McLaren Difference: Applied Ingenuity

To determine how many units could be added to the existing building at 2001 Aliceanna Street without the need for significant structural modifications, McLaren conducted a feasibility study and condition assessment. Based on the findings, a design was developed that allowed the reuse of existing columns and foundations of the warehouse without significant modification.

Additionally, McLaren developed a schematic parking layout to allow for increased parking within the existing column layout. This plan enabled The Pennant to offer each residential unit at least 1 spot. The parking layout created 313 parking spaces instead of the 274 that had been previously proposed. This efficient parking layout also resulted in the ability to add additional amenity space.

The Pennant also features a refurbished bulkhead and public promenade, connecting the community to the Baltimore Harbor.