PREDICTING AND BUILDING THE FUTURE

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE

Real estate development firm, Turner Development, converts a former industrial giant into a luxury mixed-use icon.

KATHERINE GANNON

Strategically placed on Baltimore city’s southernmost peninsula in 1923 is the 300-ft. grain elevator belonging to B&O Railroad, which carried millions of grain and agricultural products from rail cars to cargo ships awaiting transport to the rest of the world. Today, the abandoned grain elevator is a towering landmark known as Silo Point. Transformed by the award-winning firm, Turner Development, Silo Point is a 24-story luxury mixed-use building.

Inspired by one core idea: the best vision for a city’s future cannot ignore its past, Turner incorporated the original grain tower and silos into the final design. When one enters the lobby, the character of the original mill is prominent, featuring octagonal concrete columns that have stood the test of time. The awe-inspiring 25-foot ceiling height that once accommodated railroad cars now greets visitors. Under the dramatic entrance, also known as the “catacombs,” is home to a state-of-theart private health club where gym-goers are once again surrounded by the original cement pillars that support the enormous structure. As every silo has a specific bin number, residential units at Silo Point are characterized by a unique “Bin Number.” Around the site, landscaping pays homage to the original factory and its commodities with rows of crops and plants.

Now home to almost one million square feet, Silo Point includes 228 luxury condominiums, retail space, restaurants, spa/salon, health club and office space. In its design, Turner Development kept Silo Point as both a reminder of the bustling past that made Baltimore a major city and a foreshadow of what the city’s economy and culture will be in years to come.

For more information on this project and its developers visit www.turnerdevelopment.com