Exelon executives and Maryland leaders joined Friday in celebrating the opening of the company’s new building at Harbor Point, one of the more than 200 economic, community and environmental commitments Exelon made as part of its 2012 merger with Constellation.
The 21-story building serves as a catalyst for development on Baltimore’s long dormant Harbor Point — one of the last undeveloped parcels remaining on the city’s waterfront. A showcase for technology and sustainability, the building will house approximately 1,500 employees of Exelon and its Constellation subsidiary, including a state-of-the-art trading floor.
Exelon and the developer together put more than 5,300 people to work on the building’s construction. More than 150 companies contributed to Exelon’s interior build-out of the building, with more than 70 percent of the total project investment going to minority- and women-owned businesses. Thirty percent of total construction spending was with Maryland-based companies.
To further benefit job growth in Baltimore, Exelon also contributed $450,000 to programs to provide low-income and unemployed city residents critical job skills and training in construction trades so that they could compete for jobs generated by the project. Graduates from the program were placed in good-paying jobs with construction firms in the area, including those that did work on the Exelon building.
Exelon’s interior build-out was designed to meet LEED Platinum standards, the highest ranking in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Once LEED certification is received in early 2017, the building will be the largest LEED Platinum project in the mid-Atlantic and Maryland.
The building features a 49.4 kilowatt rooftop solar PV system that will produce 62,662 kilowatt hours of renewable energy annually.
The building uses 40 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than Exelon’s current Baltimore location. Approximately 60 percent of construction materials were harvested or made within 500 miles of Baltimore, and reclaimed timbers from vacant Baltimore City row homes were used in the columns on the trading floor. The building also will have 32 electric vehicle charging stations and more than 120 bike spaces.
“Today marks a major milestone for Exelon and Constellation and the commitment we made to be a catalyst for economic growth and development in the region,” said Chris Crane, president and CEO of Exelon. “We’ve delivered a boost to Maryland’s economy by partnering with local and diverse businesses and teaming up with community nonprofits to help provide training in the building trades and support thousands of jobs. Now, we look forward to making this Baltimore landmark a hub for advanced technology and innovation in the energy industry.”
“One of the highlights of my job is seeing businesses grow and expand their footprint here in Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “With this project, Exelon has sent a powerful message — that along with developing clean energy technology and enhancing our state’s energy security, they are committed to putting down roots in Baltimore City, and giving back to our communities. In Exelon, we are seeing the kind of commitment and dedication that will help guarantee the success of Baltimore’s comeback.”
“This new building is evidence of Exelon’s commitment to Baltimore, and it will house hundreds of good-paying jobs in a critical sector of our economy,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, D-Md. “The transition of Baltimore’s waterfront to a mixture of skilled industrial, technology and professional jobs contributes to a diverse and resilient Maryland economy that creates opportunities for all of our residents. I’m especially pleased the building contains cutting-edge technology that underscores the company’s firm dedication to a secure and sustainable energy future for Maryland, the mid-Atlantic region and the nation.”
“Baltimore’s business community has a major role to play in building a brighter future for Baltimore,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. “I applaud Exelon for its investment in the future of Baltimore and its commitment to bringing opportunity to all of our city’s residents.”
“What was once a vacant industrial lot is now another link in the chain of diverse neighborhoods and businesses that are bringing new vitality to Baltimore’s downtown,” said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “The view beyond this building shows a waterfront lined with construction cranes and other evidence of a continuing urban renaissance that is serving as a catalyst for jobs and sustainable economic growth for our city.”
“The new Exelon building is part of a cleaner, greener future for Baltimore,” said Laurie Schwartz, president, Waterfront Partnership. “With its rooftop solar system, green roof, use of recycled materials and accommodations for electric vehicles and bikes, this building can serve as a model for sustainable development.”
“It sends a powerful message to the local community to see that much of the building design, construction, furnishings and equipment were sourced from diverse and Maryland-based companies,” said Tony Hill, managing partner, Edwards & Hill Office Furniture. “Partnering with Exelon gives companies like ours more opportunities to grow and thrive, and it benefits our local economy and the broader community.”
Click here to see BHQ 8th Floor Trading Floor Time Lapse Video
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) is a Fortune 100 energy company with the largest number of utility customers in the U.S. Exelon does business in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada and had 2015 revenue of $34.5 billion. Exelon’s six utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to approximately 10 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania through its Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco subsidiaries. Exelon is one of the largest competitive U.S. power generators, with more than 32,700 megawatts of nuclear, gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric generating capacity comprising one of the nation’s cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. The company’s Constellation business unit provides energy products and services to approximately 2.5 million residential, public sector and business customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100. Follow Exelon on Twitter @Exelon.
