The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is set to relocate its headquarters from the aging Nancy S. Grasmick building on Baltimore Street to the city’s landmark One Charles Center office tower. The Board of Public Works approved a 15‑year lease on Sept. 16, 2026, covering 160,238 square feet across eight floors, beginning Jan. 1, 2028.
Why One Charles Center?
One Charles Center, a 23‑story International Style tower designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, has long been a symbol of Baltimore’s modernist architecture. The building, completed in 1962 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers a safe, efficient workplace and aligns with the state’s modernization effort to right‑size government operations.
Lease terms and financial impact
The lease sets the first‑year rent at $24.50 per square foot, totaling $3,928,036, with a 3 % annual escalation. Over the full term, the estimated rent reaches $73,058,263, more than 18 times the $4 million purchase price paid by the current owners in 2024. An additional $512,700 annual parking fee covers 250 underground spaces, with modest escalations built in.
When evaluated by Maryland’s Department of General Services, One Charles Center earned the highest technical score (141 points) and the highest financial score (155 points) among three finalists, securing its selection as the best value for taxpayers.
From vacancy to revitalization
Occupancy at One Charles Center had fallen to roughly 33 % by mid‑2024 after decades of high tenancy. The new state lease is expected to boost the building’s utilization and signal confidence in Baltimore’s downtown revitalization efforts. The tower’s owners, 100 N Charles Owner LLC of Great Falls, Va., purchased the property at auction in April 2024 for $4 million and chose to retain office use rather than convert the space to apartments.
What this means for the community
Moving the education department to a centrally located, historic office tower brings state employees closer to downtown amenities, public transit, and the vibrant business community. The relocation also frees the 187,000‑square‑foot Grasmick building for potential redevelopment, addressing longstanding structural concerns that forced entrance repairs in 2025.
Current tenants of One Charles Center include Peter Angelos Law, the Baltimore office of architecture firm Quinn Evans, BCT Design Group, the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership, and Edible Arrangements. The building also houses the AIA Center for Architecture & Design, further cementing its role as a hub for professional services.
Historical context
One Charles Center was the first office building completed in Baltimore’s 33‑acre Charles Center renewal area, a 1960s initiative to rejuvenate the downtown core. Its design, influenced by Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building in New York, set a new standard for glass‑skinned office towers across the nation.
With the lease now secured, the MSDE will enjoy a modern, efficient workspace while contributing to the preservation and activation of a key piece of Baltimore’s architectural heritage.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
