Bank of America Building (Baltimore)
| Company type | Commercial office and residential building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate, banking |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
| Products | Office space, residential apartments, retail space |
The Bank of America Building, also referred to as 10 Light Street and previously known as the Baltimore Trust Company Building, is a 34-story skyscraper situated at the intersection of East Baltimore and Light Street in the heart of downtown Baltimore, Maryland.
Description
Finished in 1929, 10 Light Street held the distinction of being Maryland's tallest structure and was the tallest office building located south of New York City in the United States at that period. The building, an Art Deco design by Taylor and Fisher, was constructed over eighteen months utilizing Indiana sandstone and local brick on a steel framework, with a total expenditure of $3 million.
The façade is adorned with intricately carved Romanesque human and animal motifs, stylized eagles, and is crowned by a copper-and-gold roof. Inside, the two-story main banking hall features mosaic flooring created by Hildreth Meiere and historic murals painted by Griffith Baily Coale and McGill Mackall, illustrating events such as the 1904 Baltimore fire and the composition of the National Anthem during the War of 1812. Currently, these mosaics are concealed beneath artificial turf as part of an Under Armour fitness facility.
History
Soon after the Baltimore Trust Company occupied the premises in 1929, the onset of the Great Depression led to the bank's insolvency in 1933 and subsequent receivership by 1935. The building remained largely unoccupied before being repurposed for use by Maryland's Public Works Administration.
Between the 1940s and 1960s, it was known first as the Mathieson Building and later as the O'Sullivan Building, named after its principal tenants. In 1947, it became home to the transmitter and antenna for WMAR-TV, Maryland’s inaugural television station and a CBS affiliate established by the nearby Baltimore Sun. Although the TV tower still stands atop the structure, it is no longer operational.
During this era, Semmes, Bowen and Semmes, a leading Maryland law firm, leased up to four floors until approximately 1990. Esteemed attorneys such as Richard F. Cleveland and William D. Macmillan were part of this firm.
In 1961, Maryland National Bank (MBNA), which succeeded Baltimore Trust, acquired the property and renamed it the "Maryland National Bank Building." Following MBNA’s purchase by NationsBank in 1993, it was rebranded as the "NationsBank Building." After NationsBank merged with BankAmerica in 1997, it adopted its current name. Major renovations included restoring the copper-clad dome along with installing nighttime floodlights.
In December 2012, Metropolitan Partnership Ltd., based in Virginia, purchased the building with plans to transform floors above the fourth into 445 residential units while maintaining retail operations on lower levels. Bank of America ceased its ground-floor branch operations in May 2013. Today, the first floor accommodates FX Studios & Under Armour Performance Center alongside residential apartments and office spaces, including a penthouse.
See also
External links
- Official website