Will Baltimore get a Center for Design?

Design Thinking, the concept of creative problem solving, requires a broad and comprehensive approach which bridges across many disciplines. The reality, however often locks design professionals into their respective professional silos. It is a remarkable moment, then, when the Baltimore District Council of the Urban Land Institute and the Baltimore Chapter of the American Institute of Architects both decided that it was in their best interest to move under one roof. According to AIA, the ULI move is a step towards the vision of creating a Center for Architecture and Design:

Center for Architecture New York 

"We are very pleased that ULI has joined us in sharing our headquarters space here at the AIA Baltimore Chapter House.  It is hoped that this will bring increased collaboration among our two organizations to foster even more dialogue and networking among the design and real estate professions.  This is a step toward our future goal to create a Center for Architecture and Design: a dynamic hub of allied organizations and educational institutions in Baltimore." (AIA Executive Director Kathleen Lane)

The excitement is mutual. The ULI District Council Coordinator Lisa Norris, who serves Central Maryland and the Eastern Shore and over 560 local members, added this about the move from suburban Cockeysville:

ULI Baltimore

“We are thrilled with our new space in the City,” said Lisa Norris, ULI Baltimore District Council Coordinator. “Not only is it more member-friendly, but most of the initiatives we are involved in take place in Baltimore City, and what better way to show our support than to relocate here.”

In the spirit of the ultimately envisioned Center for Design the collaboration includes the currently popular concept of shared spaces: the two organizations will initially share the conference room and kitchen. The AIA headquarters building also has a gallery space and a design oriented bookshop on the first floor. With Baltimore Heritage, the Architecture Foundation and ULI under one roof ,design collaboration between various design and development oriented organizations has made, indeed, a big step forward.

AIA Gallery during mentorship program 

However, space in the historic rowhouse on Chase Street is at a premium and AIA has long envied other chapters in cities where they have turned their AIA headquarters into hubs for the community in all matters that have to do with design. Examples can be found across the country including Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York or Chicago. In fact, the local AIA is willing to sell its current building and rent a centrally located suitable facility to advance the idea of such a Center for Design. Initially the former Greyhound station at Center Street was deemed suitable, but negotiations with the Maryland Historical Society ended unsuccessfully. An internal paper prepared by AIA describes the vision for a center:

The Baltimore Center for Architecture and Design is envisioned to create a dynamic hub to foster professional and public education about architecture and design excellence and the vital role these play in enriching our communities, and contributing to sustainability, resiliency, health, education, well-being and quality of life of Baltimore City and surrounding counties. It will convene dialogue and education on architecture, design, and the built environment in Baltimore, advocacy for the richness and diversity of our historic architecture and neighborhoods, and the advancement of innovative design, and a sustainable future for our city.  

D center logo

The notion of creating a common space where design, development, art, engineering and design education intersect, has been around in Baltimore for some time. In 2007 several dozen people crowded the first floor of the "Load of Fun" artist co-working space on North Avenue which has since been converted to the Motor House. In a brainstorming session a seed was laid for the creation of a physical hub the  non-profit which resulted from the gathering, D:center, later described in these terms:

D:center  is THE place to go to for everything at the intersection of art, design
and urban intervention. The center is a unique collaboration between academic institutions, professional organizations, non profits and individuals devoted to putting design into the DNA of Baltimore. 

After renting spaces at a storefront at Saratoga Street (with the help of a DPoB grant) and space at the former North Avenue Market (with a Deutsch Foundation grant) and hosting a number of exhibits and events, D:center had to realize that it didn't have the man-power or finances to continue the notion of  a physical center. It has since a carried Design Thinking forth with 87 Design Conversations held monthly at the Wind-up Space. In 2018 D:center's conversations have moved to the Motor House and are now hosted by NDC.

Center for Architecture Philadelphia 

The notion that Baltimore needs a physical design hub is still valid in 2018,  after the unrest  of 2015, after MICA created a program for Social Design, and after a West Baltimore Innovation Village was founded. it is more vaild than ever.

Let's hope that having ULI and AIA together with Baltimore Heritage under one roof is not the last step towards creating such a hub.

Klaus Philipsen, FAIA