Lumen Plaza

Renewed Urban Space to Entice & Energize

Baltimore, MD

Client

Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT)

Team

Construction Insight, BKM, Morris Ritchie & Associates, Plano-Coudon

Cost

$7.5 Million

Services

Urban Design, Rooftop/Design, Social Distance Design, Downtown Improvement / Streetscape Planning (Revitalization), Permitting, Design Team Coordination (Project Lead), Construction Administration

Located on the roof of the building’s parking garage and overlooking Baltimore’s iconic waterfront the renovation of 100 Light Street Plaza was initiated by a multi-million-dollar water-proofing project. As part of a broad rebranding effort, COPT challenged Floura Teeter to reimage this vital plaza, to embrace new materials, dynamic landforms, planting, and to create true people-centric spaces.

100 Light Programmatic Diagram

Approach

Through collaboration, the design team imagined a lush, dynamic landscape and then carved out circulation and gathering areas. The result is a fluid, organic, people-focused environment complementing the city framework and 40-story office tower.

Aerial Rendered View of the Plaza from Pratt Street Lawn Rendering View of the Plaza 100 Light Sketch Planting at 100 Light Street Plaza 100 Light Street bench

Details

Built completely on structure, Light Street Plaza encompasses nearly a full city block. To achieve the desired planting vision, Floura Teeter collaborated with design partners to create visually dynamic planters using concrete curbs, sculpted Corten metal, integrated seating platforms, and retaining walls. Design elements were carefully coordinated with the existing structural slab and drainage, using lightweight manufactured soils, insulation layers for mounded planting, and placement of large trees aligned to the structural grid. Sweeping paving bands accentuate pedestrian movements and define spaces. Movable tables and chairs, oversized seating platforms, benches, and a natural turf lawn offer tenants a comfortable outdoor environment for both work and play.

The Floura Teeter team came up with a very creative plaza design that was not only pleasing to the eye but also worked well within the existing conditions of a difficult site. At nearly a full city block, they did a nice job of carving out different areas that range from enjoying your lunch alone to hanging with a large group of coworkers to celebrate someone’s birthday. 

Mark Wendell, AIA, Senior Manager – Design + Development, COPT

Awards

Building Congress & Exchange, Custom Site Furnishing Award, 2023

ABC Greater Baltimore, Diamond Excellence Award, 2023

Project Team