BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL: BALTIMORE DISTRICT COURTHOUSE

The Baltimore Business Journal recently published an article on the extensive renovations that are underway at the Baltimore City District Courthouse on 500 N Calvert Street. The article details the work planned for the approximately 170,000 square-foot courthouse. Subscribers of the BBJ can check out the article at the link below-
https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2023/05/24/baltimore-city-district-court-construction.html

MUST SEE: Drone Fly-Through Video of Highlandtown EMS

It’s our pleasure to share this great drone fly-through video, produced by 21st Century Schools, showcasing the $22 million Highlandtown Project! Lots of natural light, beautiful ceiling details, and a seamless transition from the historic facility into the newly constructed Middle School wing (both inside & out). The school boasts new science labs, art studios, music room, and a makerspace/tech lab. Outdoor spaces include an all-new playground and recreational soccer field, fulfilling a long-held vision of the community that emerged as a priority during early planning meetings! Shoutout to John Srygley on another sharp design.

Scenes from the Ribbon Cutting at Montebello Elementary/Middle

A buzz of excitement was in the air as CAM wrapped up 2022 by hosting two major ribbon cutting ceremonies IN ONE WEEK, showcasing our recently completed 21st Century Schools Projects: Highlandtown Elementary/Middle and Montebello Elementary/Middle! We were overjoyed to have the chance to unveil these beautiful new facilities to the throngs of students and parents, eager to explore their new classrooms, libraries, dining halls, and collaborative learning spaces. Special thanks to leaders like Governor Larry Hogan, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Mayor Brandon Scott, Council President Nick Mosby, Principal Denise Ashley, Principal Troy Mitchell, and other city advocates who were instrumental in getting these plans approved, who came out to celebrate the momentous occasions and tour the final product.

What better feeling than to give over 1,400 young students the gift of a brand new school for Christmas! Certainly much more work to be done, but together we can change the lives of Marylanders for the better, one building at a time.

Montebello Transformation Featured in the BBJ

Melody Simmons, commercial real estate reporter with the Baltimore Business Journal, just published an excellent article in the BBJ following her tour through our recently completed Montebello Elementary/Middle School project in Central Baltimore.

CAM was proud to be a part of a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Brandon M. ScottMichael Frenz, and so many other dignitaries yesterday! An incredible transformation and example of historic preservation, while incorporating modern finishes and cutting edge technology throughout the facility. The exterior design of the building is emblematic of the historic architectural style of the surrounding neighborhood, so the city committed to restoring the facades back to their original luster, while giving its design team the creative liberties to redevelop the interior of the facility has beyond recognition–optimized for modern occupancy! The stately character of the Field House is one area where Todd Vukmanic & his architectural team were really able to marry the exposed historic elements with the needs of today’s student athletes, performers, and general assemblies.

Executing the rear cafeterium addition, playground, and outdoor classroom spaces proved extremely challenging, given the constrained site conditions and limited points of access into the building for equipment and materials. Contending with steep slopes, working around historic window openings, maximizing views of the lake, and re-imagining the existing floorplates into a 21st Century learning environment proved a rewarding and challenging endeavor for our project management staff and the visionary team at Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates. Moreover, redirecting pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns along Harford Road, E. 32nd Street, and Curran Drive added to the complexities of managing this job. Shoutout to our PM, Vince Culotta, our Superintendent, Jeff Schissler, and Justin Wood at MSA for all their hard work on this one over the past two years.

CAM Participates in ABC/AIA/ULI Baltimore Panel Discussion

Marc Munafo, CAM’s President, participated as a panelist during the recent “Unique Practices of Successful Project Teams” event presented by ABC, AIA, and ULI.

The Graceland Park/O’Donnell Heights EMS & Holabird Academy projects were featured and CAM was joined by Maurice Gaskins, Baltimore City Public Schools, to discuss the project’s success and unique organizational structure. Grimm + Parker was the architect in the project.

Each team identified how they defined success and elaborate on the unique project management and planning practices that were implemented in order to achieve client goals.

Other Project Teams:

MSU Calvin and Tina Tyler Hall

  • Bob Mock, Associate, GWWO
  • Benjamin P. Morgan, Vice President, Barton Malow Company
  • Daniel N. Janak, Assistant Project Manager, Morgan State University 

Four Ten Lofts

  • Malindi Lankatilleke, Project Manager, Southway Builders
  • Nancy Liebrecht, Project Manager, Moseley Architects
  • Jim French, Principal, French Development

Award of Excellence – Graceland Park/O’Donnell Heights EMS & Holabird Academy!

GC New Project Over $10 Million

Within the inner city of Baltimore, two existing Elementary / Middle Schools were replaced with two (2) new duplicate, 92,000 sf zero-energy facilities.

Located within two miles of each other, the new facilities demonstrate Baltimore’s focus to sustainability and energy-conscious schools. The schools are equipped with student gardens, outdoor classrooms, rooftop solar labs, and vegetative roofs.

Both schools have distinct and individual exterior palettes, however the facilities have identical footprints. The schools were constructed simultaneously, opening on-time during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. CAM utilized a project management crew that had a Chief Superintendent & Senior Project Manager oversee both sites with individual project management teams at each site accordingly.

Via an allowance, CAM hired a firm (CMTA) that provided an integrated monitoring and building information system for the kids to learn about the facilities energy consumption and specific features throughout the school. Monitoring is available 24/7 through a touchscreen device in the main lobby/atrium-mounted at an appropriate height for children to reach.

U.S Education Secretary Tours New Net Zero School!

Graceland Park/O’Donnell Heights EMS Opened Last Year

This Baltimore City Public school is one of two (2) new duplicate 92,000 sf Net Zero buildings. The two facilities were completed during the COVID-19 pandemic and are located within two miles of each other. Each school is distinct with individual exterior palettes, however both facilities have identical footprints.

The schools are equipped with student gardens, outdoor classrooms, rooftop solar labs, and vegetative roofs. The below quote is from a current student at Graceland.

“I’m really excited to come back. I love being at school. I’m kind of a nerd. I love school, and I love how welcome they make me feel in here, I don’t get distracted and I’m learning. They help me build my skills and everything.”

Rachel Arana, Eighth-Grader at Graceland Park, per CBS Baltimore