The AIA Maryland Chapter in Annapolis, MD, honored Quinn Evans projects with two Excellence in Design Awards at their 2023 awards ceremony. The jury selected the Phillips Packing House project for a merit award and awarded the Creativity Center with a design citation.

The AIA Maryland Chapter Excellence in Design Awards represent a pinnacle of architectural innovation and creativity in the state of Maryland. These awards celebrate the exceptional work of architectural professionals who have pushed the boundaries of design, demonstrating their talent and commitment to enhancing the built environment.

Quinn Evans has worked with the Creative Alliance for almost20 years, aiding the organization in their mission to build communities by bringing together artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds to experience spectacular arts and education programs and engage in the creative process. The Creativity Center project in Baltimore, MD involves the creation of a new facility specifically for education activities across the street from the Patterson Theater – also a Quinn Evans project where adaptive reuse design strategies were used to transform a former movie theater into Creative Alliance’s flagship community arts venue.

The new Creativity Center provides a dedicated dance studio, two flexible arts classrooms, and a teaching kitchen for the community. The building’s design responds sensitively to both the adjacent row houses and the historic Patterson Theater that maximizes the Creative Alliance budget with flexible spaces that can accommodate a wide variety of programming. We worked with Bob Proutt, MK Consulting, Mincin Patel Milano, and TAI Engineering to realize this collaborative effort.

The renovation of the historic Factory F building, part of the original Phillips Packing Company on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, is propelling the city of Cambridge into the modern innovation economy. The project sits within a targeted revitalization area called the Packing District and embraces the historically underserved communities of Cambridge through workforce development and education.

While preserving the building’s physical integrity, the design of the re-branded Packing House includes a major food hub for local food and beverage production, food business incubation, and food distribution. The project also includes a shared office innovation hub with both office and lab space, designed to attract local entrepreneurs, businesses and non-profits. We completed a faithful restoration of the historic building, modernization of the core features, numerous test fits and feasibility studies to create a transparent and vibrant hub of activity that connects tenants and visitors to shared communal spaces.

The project team included Cross Street Partners, as both developer and contractor, Lane Engineering Inc., and Skarda and Associates, and used Historic Tax Credits to help supplement funding for the building’s transformation.