1103 N. Washington
The rehabilitation of a historic tobacco warehouse and former roller rink will create an active, innovation campus in the heart of East Baltimore
Development
Cross Street Partners
General Contractor
Cross Street Partners
Design
Moseley Architects
Project History
Unlike all of Cross Street’s adaptive reuse projects to date, 1103 N. Washington Street has remained continuously occupied throughout its lifecycle — adapting to meet the needs of each generation. Originally constructed in 1875 by Becker Bros., a Baltimore firm founded by German immigrants, the building began as a tobacco warehouse for leaf storage and later served as a cigar factory under Gieske & Niemann in the early 1900s.
Across the 20th century, the building took on new lives — serving as home to Baumgarten & Co. toy manufacturers and later accommodating an array of uses including an upholstery shop, mattress factory, cabinet makers, furniture repair shop, roller skating rink, and artist and maker studios.
When Complete
Located just steps away from the historic Hoen Lithograph Campus, 1103 N. Washington Street will advance the vision of mission-driven collaboration—bringing together nonprofits, educators, and innovators under one roof.
The reimagined space will feature exposed brick, open layouts, and oversized factory windows that fill the building with natural light, while preserving its industrial character. Spanning three floors, the project will deliver a mix of office, production, training, and studio space, anchored by proximity to the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus and the transformative $1.8 billion EBDI district.
