Baltimore World Trade Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baltimore World Trade Center |
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Baltimore World Trade Center as seen from a boat in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 401 E. Pratt St Baltimore MD 21202 USA |
| Coordinates | 39°17′09.66″N 76°36′34.77″W / 39.2860167°N 76.6096583°W |
| Construction started | October 1973 |
| Completed | January 1977 |
| Cost | $22 million |
| Owner | Maryland Port Administration |
| Height | |
| Roof | 123.5 m (405 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 30 |
| Floor area | 422,000 sq ft (39,200 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Pei Cobb Freed & Partners |
| Structural engineer | Weiskopf & Pickworth, New York, NY |
The Baltimore World Trade Center is a tall, 30-story building located right on the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. It was designed by famous architects Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. The main architects were Henry N. Cobb and Pershing Wong.
Work on the building started in October 1973 and it was finished in January 1977. It cost about $22 million to build.
This building stands 405 ft (123 m) tall. It has 30 stories if you count the basement, lobby, and top utility levels. The total space inside is about 422,000 sq ft (39,200 m2). It's known for its unique shape: it's the world's tallest skyscraper that has a regular five-sided (pentagon) base.
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What's in a Name?
The building is called the "World Trade Center" because its main goal is to help promote trade around the world. This name is licensed by the World Trade Centers Association. Baltimore was one of the first 16 cities to join this association.
The building is home to several important groups. These include the main offices for the Maryland Port Administration, which manages the state's ports. It also houses the World Trade Center Institute, a group that helps businesses with international trade.
Cool Design and Lights
The building was placed so that one corner points towards the Inner Harbor, like the front of a ship. From some angles, it looks like the building is rising right out of the water!
At night, powerful lights at the base of each of the building's five corners shine upwards. These lights create bright V-shaped beams that reflect outwards. This "beacon" effect was inspired by lighthouses along the Chesapeake Bay. This special lighting can be seen from seven to 10 miles away on clear nights.
Top of the World Observation Deck
On the 27th floor, there's an observation deck called "Top of the World." From here, you can see amazing 360-degree views of the city. It's a great place to learn about Baltimore's history and see art exhibits. There's also a gift shop.
The "Top of the World" is also home to the 9/11 Memorial of Maryland. It's open to the public during the day. Groups can also rent it for special events.
Remembering September 11
After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Baltimore World Trade Center was temporarily closed. This was a safety measure.
For a while, concrete barriers were put up around the building to protect it. Barges were also placed in the harbor to guard against attacks from the water. These security steps were later removed. The special exterior lights on the building were turned off for several years.
9/11 Memorial of Maryland
A special memorial for the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks was built near the Baltimore World Trade Center. It was officially opened on September 11, 2011, ten years after the attacks.
The memorial includes three large steel beams from the New York World Trade Center. These beams were part of the 94th to 96th floors of the North Tower. There are also pieces of damaged limestone from the Pentagon. These rest on marble blocks that have the names and birthdays of the 68 Marylanders who died in the attacks.
The memorial is designed like a sundial. On September 11 each year, the building's shadow moves across inscriptions on the platform. It touches each inscription at the exact time that event happened during the attacks.
Hurricane Isabel Flooding
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel caused major flooding in the Baltimore World Trade Center's basement. About 3 million US gallons (11,000 m3) of water filled the basement. This destroyed important electrical and communication equipment. The building had to close for over a month for cleanup.
State Ownership
The building is owned by the Maryland Port Administration, which is part of the state government. There have been talks about whether the state should sell the building. However, the current governor decided to keep it under state ownership.
Floating Wetlands Gardens
In 2010, a project began to create floating gardens in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, right next to the World Trade Center. These are like small, grassy islands that float on the water. They help clean the harbor by taking out pollution like nitrogen.
These floating gardens also create a home for small sea creatures like worms, crabs, and mussels. The plants chosen for the floats are marsh grasses that feed on nutrients from sewage and storm runoff. Even plastic bottles found in the harbor are used in the floats to help them float!
Images for kids
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Detail of the building from the Harbor
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Floating "wetlands" attached to the waterfront bulkhead of the Baltimore World Trade Center (May 2012)
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Floating wetlands area for waterfowl
See also
In Spanish: Baltimore World Trade Center para niños
- List of world trade centers
- September 11 attacks
- The Pentagon
- World Trade Center in Manhattan
- World Trade Centers Association
