Baltimore World Trade Center
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Located on the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, the Baltimore World Trade Center is the world's tallest equilateral five-sided building (the five-sided JPMorgan Chase Tower in Houston, Texas is taller, but has unequal sides). It was designed by the firm of the famous architect I.M. Pei, with the principal architects being Henry Cobb and Pershing Wong.[1] The building was completed in 1977 at a cost of $22 million.
The building was arranged so that a corner points out towards the water of the inner harbor, suggesting the prow of a ship.[2]
The Baltimore World Trade Center has an observation deck, called "Top of the World," is open to the public during daytime hours. The landmark tower also houses the headquarters of the Maryland Port Administration as well as hosting office space to numerous companies and several state agencies.
Giant floodlights in the base of each of the World Trade Center's five recessed corners brilliantly illuminate the building at night from the ground up and are turned off at approximately 11:00 PM. Oversized parabolic mirrors at the top of the five corners then reflect the light outward to dramatic effect.
Following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, for several months additional protection was given to the Baltimore building due to the similarity in their names. Hurricane Isabel flooded the lower floors of the Baltimore World Trade Center in September 2003; the building remained closed for clean-up for more than a month after the hurricane struck.
The building is owned by the State of Maryland. As a result, there are often public discussions on whether it should be sold whenever a new state budget is up for approval.
Status:
Finished: 1977
Floor Count: 32
Height: 123.5 m (405 ft)
[edit] References
- ^ Dorsey, John & Dilts, James D., A Guide to Baltimore Architecture (1997) p. 65. Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, Maryland ISBN 0-87033-477-8
- ^ Dorsey, John & Dilts, James D., A Guide to Baltimore Architecture (1997) p. 64. Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, Maryland ISBN 0-87033-477-8
