In modern-day Baltimore, a rooftop pool perched above the city harkens back to the 1920s.
Project Details
Location: Baltimore
Developer: Metropolitan Baltimore
Architect: BCT
Builder: Halle Group
Opened: September 2016
Number of units: 419
Unit mix: Studios and one-, two-, and three-bedrooms
Rents: $1,150 to $11,999
In 1904, the Great Baltimore Fire ravaged the industrial city, spreading over 140 acres and destroying more than 1,500 buildings. Twenty-five years later, when the 10 Light Street building was originally developed, the Art Deco–style structure was outfitted with an innovative fire system to ensure that the building wouldn’t fall victim to another burn.
The building had a 25,000-gallon rooftop water storage tank on the north shoulder of the building, which the company used to create a rooftop saline pool when adapting the historic former Bank of America building into apartments.
The 22nd floor of the 10 Light building is surrounded by original spires, the center one of which climbs an additional 15 floors above the pool for a distinctive look. Developer Metropolitan Baltimore provided modern contrasts to the historic spires, including a tanning ledge within the pool and glass railings for unobstructed views of the city and Inner Harbor. The team also incorporated furnishings that nodded back to the swim clubs of the ’20s and ’30s.
The rooftop pool, which is open May 1 to Sept. 30, also features a 90-inch television with complete surround sound; lounges; dining areas; and an outdoor cinema with piped-in music for movie nights and community events. The pool is considered the highest residential pool in the state.
