Pratt Street Power Plant
Encyclopedia
Pratt Street Power Plant, also known as the Pier Four Power Plant, The Power Plant, or Pratt Street Station, is a historic power plant
located in Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
. Pratt Street Power Plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1987.
Cordish Company
has its headquarters on the sixth floor.
The Power Plant's tenants have included the first ESPN Zone
in the country (opened July 11, 1998; closed June 2010), Hard Rock Cafe
(opened July 4, 1997), Barnes & Noble
, Gold's Gym
(closed early 2010), and loft offices. Maryland Art Place
, a contemporary art gallery for Maryland artists, is located in the northwest corner. It lends its name to the nearby Power Plant Live!
nightlife complex. In November 2011, the former ESPN Zone space was filled by Phillips seafood restaurant, which moved from its longtime location inside Harborplace
.
Cordish also developed the adjacent Pier IV building, whose tenants include Houlihan's
, Chipotle Mexican Grill
, and Dick's Last Resort
.
. The structures are brick with terra cotta
trim and steel frame construction. It was built between 1900 and 1909 and is a massive industrial structure with Neo-Classical detailing designed by the noted architectural firm of Baldwin & Pennington. It served as the main source of power for the United Railways and Electric Company
, a consolidation of smaller street railway systems, that influenced the provision of city-wide transportation and opened up suburban areas of Baltimore to power its electric street railway
in the city. It later served as a central steam plant for the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, a predecessor of the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
for $4 million. The plant, with obsolescent equipment, was used sparingly until it was returned to service to meet the World War II
production demand for electricity.
theme park (1985-1989) and a short-lived dance club called P.T. Flagg's (1989-1990).
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
located in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Pratt Street Power Plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1987.
Cordish Company
Cordish Company
The Cordish Company is a real estate development and entertainment operating company with its headquarters on the 6th floor of the Pratt Street Power Plant in Baltimore, Maryland...
has its headquarters on the sixth floor.
The Power Plant's tenants have included the first ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone is a Southern California-based chain of two sports-themed restaurants that include arcades, TV studios, and radio studios that are currently franchised, but formally owned by the American cable network ESPN. The first ESPN Zone opened in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 11, 1998, in the Power...
in the country (opened July 11, 1998; closed June 2010), Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
(opened July 4, 1997), Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
, Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym International, Inc. is an international chain of co-ed fitness centers originally started in California by Joe Gold. Each gym features a wide array of exercise equipment, group exercise classes and personal trainers to assist clients...
(closed early 2010), and loft offices. Maryland Art Place
Maryland Art Place
The Maryland Art Place is a not-for-profit contemporary art gallery in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. established in 1981. The gallery is located in the historic Pratt Street Power Plant on Baltimore's Inner Harbor....
, a contemporary art gallery for Maryland artists, is located in the northwest corner. It lends its name to the nearby Power Plant Live!
Power Plant Live!
Power Plant Live! is a collection of bars, clubs, and other businesses in the Inner Harbor section of downtown Baltimore, Maryland. It was developed by the Cordish Company and opened in phases during 2001, 2002, and 2003. The entertainment complex gets its name from the nearby "Power Plant"...
nightlife complex. In November 2011, the former ESPN Zone space was filled by Phillips seafood restaurant, which moved from its longtime location inside Harborplace
Harborplace
Harborplace is a festival marketplace in Baltimore, Maryland, that opened in 1980 as a centerpiece of the revival of downtown Baltimore. As its name suggests, it is located on the Inner Harbor....
.
Cordish also developed the adjacent Pier IV building, whose tenants include Houlihan's
Houlihan's
Houlihan's is a Leawood, Kansas-based American contemporary restaurant chain. The first Houlihan's opened on April 1, 1972 on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, and is now in 21 states...
, Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada specializing in burritos and tacos, founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and based in Denver, Colorado...
, and Dick's Last Resort
Dick's Last Resort
Dick's Last Resort is a small bar and restaurant chain in the United States, known for its intentional employment of an obnoxious staff. The name consists of seven restaurants, including one near Petco Park, California and another in Las Vegas...
.
The building and history as a power plant
The structure is a 132 by complex of three buildings located at Pratt Street and Pier 4 at Baltimore’s Inner HarborInner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
. The structures are brick with terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
trim and steel frame construction. It was built between 1900 and 1909 and is a massive industrial structure with Neo-Classical detailing designed by the noted architectural firm of Baldwin & Pennington. It served as the main source of power for the United Railways and Electric Company
United Railways and Electric Company
The United Railways and Electric Company was a street railway company in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area of the U.S. state of Maryland from 1899 to 1935....
, a consolidation of smaller street railway systems, that influenced the provision of city-wide transportation and opened up suburban areas of Baltimore to power its electric street railway
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
in the city. It later served as a central steam plant for the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, a predecessor of the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is an energy producer, trader, and distributor. The company operates over 35 power plants in 11 states under its operating company Constellation Commodities Group and/or Constellation Generation Group...
for $4 million. The plant, with obsolescent equipment, was used sparingly until it was returned to service to meet the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
production demand for electricity.
Post retirement
After the electric plant was retired from service, the building was vacant for a time. The building had been the site of many failed development endeavors, most notably an indoor Six FlagsSix Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
theme park (1985-1989) and a short-lived dance club called P.T. Flagg's (1989-1990).