Exelon Creates an Iconic Entrance at the Inner Harbor
Everyone has heard the saying “Actions speak louder than words.” This is certainly echoed in Exelon’s commitment to the city of Baltimore, Maryland. One of last undeveloped parcels on Baltimore’s waterfront at Harbor Point is now the site of Exelon Corporation’s new 473,000-square-foot, 21-story headquarters, housing the firm’s wholesale, retail, and renewable energy operations and its Baltimore-based administrative offices. Exelon’s commitment marked the city’s largest construction project in more than a decade, revitalizing a long-dormant portion of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Within the Exelon building is a mixed-use component with apartments located at 1305 Dock Street and podium retail area at the base as well. The company was eager for its new headquarters space to reflect Baltimore and its people, as well as to support Exelon’s culture of encouraging innovation and acknowledgement of the power of ideas. Beyond Exelon’s role as a large employer and economic driver, Exelon also takes its responsibilities seriously to promote economic development and business growth, and improve the city for its residents. Housing approximately 1,500 employees, the new headquarters is a forward-looking showcase of technology and sustainability.
The organization wanted to make a statement with the $160 Million structure as the aesthetic reflects the harbor and local community, with Maryland-based furnishings to local art. Generous amounts of reclaimed wood reference the harbor’s docks and walkways; timbers from 70 abandoned Baltimore row houses create a striking focal point as columns in the 600-seat central trading floor. The work of 11 artists based is based on themes of innovation, progress, collaboration, sustainability, and energy are displayed throughout the building.
Collaboration was needed to get the project rolling for the campus as the tower was designed by the architecture team of BHC Architects working directly with construction manager Armada Hoffler Construction to make the owner Beatty Development’s dream a reality. With the Inner Harbor as the setting, the direction called for extensive natural light and dramatic views to the exterior so it’s no surprise that the facade predominantly featured a lot of glass inside and out. Curtain wall installer Pioneer Cladding and Glazing Systems was awarded the task of skinning the complete building. However, when it came to creating the stunning transparent glass fin wall entrance they partnered with Pilkington Planar™ structural glass experts at W&W Glass, LLC. W&W also had worked extensively in the pre-bid process with BHC to provide a buildable and biddable design as they do on many projects. The ultra-clear entryway cube was composed of an interior and exterior vertical glass wall with returns on either side. The exterior and interior face glass was made of Pilkington Optiwhite™ low-iron SentryGlas® laminated glass with “K” low-e on the #4 surface. The two interior soffit glass areas on the left and right side of the cube also called for Optiwhite low-Iron SGP laminated glass while the all of the vertical glass fin elements are Optiwhite low-iron monolithic tempered glass. All of the glass panels are secured to the support fins (both steel gusset tabs and glass) by Pilkington Planar™ 905 series flush, countersunk stainless steel fitting hardware.
Exelon’s state-of-the-art, trading floor—one of the largest in the U.S.— achieved LEED CI (Commercial Interior) Certificaiton. The interiors walls are modular and designed to capitalize on either harbor views or the revitalized Harbor East neighborhood, underscoring the company’s connection to the community. The building is the largest LEED Platinum certified project in the mid-Atlantic region and fourth-largest LEED ID+C (Interior Design + Construction) Platinum certified project in the United States.
W&W Glass is an expert in developing custom solutions for corporate headquarters, high-end commercial lobbies, college and univeristy facilities, and transportation structures. You can see our entire portfolio by going to https://www.wwglass.com/portfolio/
W&W Glass LLC is a family owned business with a 70-year history in the metal and glass industry, one of the largest metal and glass companies in the New York metropolitan area and the largest supplier of structural glass systems in the country. We have over two decades of experience in the design and installation of various building enclosure systems, including stick-built curtain walls, pre-glazed unitized curtain walls, Pilkington Planar™ structural glass facades, and custom metal and glass enclosure systems. We install all of our work with our own dedicated union labor force. W&W is consistently the largest employer of glaziers in the NY metropolitan area.
