This week, our Structures and Marine engineers had the opportunity to showcase McLaren’s extensive adaptive reuse work on the now complete Elms Fells Point, at ASCE Maryland’s November Section meeting.
Playing a pivotal role in the conversion, David McLaren, PE, VP of Structural Engineering, Brian Riggs, PE, Structural Senior Associate, and Daniel Murphy, PE, Marine Project Manager / Diver, discussed how the existing two-story structure was reimagined with the addition of a wood-framed vertical extension that aligns with the Fells Point Urban Renewal Plan’s design goals and the challenges that came along the way.
David
McLaren, PE
VP of Structural Engineering
Brian
Riggs, PE
Structural Senior Associate
Daniel
Murphy, PE
Marine Project Manager / Diver
Once known as Baltimore’s historic Wolfe Street warehouse, Elms Fells Point was transformed into the city’s new 285-unit multifamily community on the waterfront. A portion of the warehouse was demolished and replaced with a 5-story, 307,500 square-foot wood-framed addition, skillfully constructed on the existing foundations. Due to floodplain considerations along Baltimore Harbor, ground-level garages were integrated into the project.
The site includes a restored bulkhead and a public promenade, enhancing community connectivity to the waterfront. McLaren’s in-house P.E. divers conducted meticulous above and underwater inspections, providing recommendations to improve the system’s longevity with the design of a new bulkhead that reutilized existing tiebacks and piles.
Today, the development is proudly aligned with the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Silver certification, underscoring its commitment to urban sustainability.
Stephanie
Richmond, PE
Structural Senior Associate
Special thank you to Stephanie Richmond, PE, McLaren’s Structural Senior Associate and ASCE Maryland’s Programs Chair for spotlighting McLaren’s work in the community.
