100 Light Street

History

The tower was one of the first skyscrapers to be constructed using a then-revolutionary method of erecting a towering central reinforced concrete column first containing elevators and service infrastructure conduits and then followed later by the surrounding scaffolding or steel horizontal beams rising floor by floor, and was a magnet for "sidewalk superintendents" and passing office workers during its construction during the early 70's. Overlooking the new harborfront parkland and expanded bulkheads of former Sam Smith Park with newly rebuilt/repaved Light and Pratt Streets with median strips and landscaped tree-lined sidewalks focused on a brick waterside promenade, soon to be anchored by the historic sailing U.S. Navy warship, (originally thought to be from 1797, later documented as 1854) with "Constellation Dock" replacing old Municipal Pier 1. Later surrounded by an enormous surrounding plazas rising above a series of steps on the lower south and east sides of the block paved with pink stone panels with terraced garden plots with shrubbery at the edges. A few years later, the construction of Harborplace shopping pavilions with a new waterfall fountain in renamed McKeldin Square (renamed for former Mayor and Governor Theodore R. McKeldin), reached by crossing-over the adjacent streets by pedestrian bridges and a central amphitheater facing the water and the ships. Within a decade, the new tower was surrounded by additional glass and aluminum office buildings, hotels, and shopping/commercial high-rises.

Construction of the new rising tower challenged for the first time forty years the "tallest tower" ranking held since its 1929 completion of the art deco-styled former Baltimore Trust Company Building, (which later went bankrupt shortly after its completion after the Great Wall Street Stock Market Crash of October 1929), then assumed several other names before bearing the title of the Maryland National Bank of the reorganized old B.T.C., by the 1960s soon the largest banking chain in the state.

USF&G built the 35-story tower, selling it when they were purchased by the St. Paul Companies, which is now a unit of The Travelers Companies. Despite its own changes of owners and names, the former USF&G Building remains the tallest building in Baltimore, the tallest building in Maryland, and the tallest building between Philadelphia and Raleigh after the completion of RBC Plaza in 2008. It was also the former home of Legg Mason investment and financial advisors after leaving its former headquarters at the Harborplace Office Tower. Legg Mason later relocated to a newer headquarters on the eastern side of downtown in Harbor East.

The building was renamed the Transamerica Tower in November 2011 when Transamerica became the largest tenant of the building, moving there from its nationally known former headquarters in San Francisco, the iconic landmark Transamerica Pyramid which appears in the company's logo at the top of the building. The building was again put on sale in early 2015.

In February 2023, Transamerica downsized and left the building, ending their lease and forfeiting the naming rights. While some Baltimoreans still refer to the building as "Transamerica Tower", the Transamerica name from the building was removed, and Transamerica relocated to a smaller space at Wills Wharf at Harbor Point. Following this, the building's name was changed back to 100 Light Street.

Occupants and ownership changes

USF&G remained in the building until the mid-1990s.

In spring 2011, the building also became home to Baltimore-based law firm Ober|Kaler (now Baker Donelson).

In November 2011, the building became the headquarters of Transamerica.

In April 2013, the building became the home of the Mid-Atlantic law firm Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

Around 1978, a peregrine falcon made its home on a balcony on the building's 33rd floor.

References

References

1. "Transamerica Tower". CTBUH.
2. {{CTBUH. 3252
3. "Emporis building ID 118976". [[Emporis]].
4. {{SkyscraperPage. 716
5. {{Structurae. 20021272
6. (30 April 2008). "Legg Mason tower owner and USF&G end lease early". The Baltimore Sun.
7. Hopkins, Jamie Smith. (31 October 2011). "Transamerica Workers Begin Move to Downtown Skyscraper". The Baltimore Sun.
8. (28 January 2015). "For sale: Transamerica Tower". [[Daily Record (Maryland).
9. (February 2, 2023). "Transamerica sign coming down in Baltimore".
10. Andrew Deichler. (13 April 2010). "Ober". CoStar.
11. Sernovitz, Daniel J.. (19 May 2011). "Miles & Stockbridge moving to 100 Light St.". Baltimore Business Journal.
12. Jennifer Huizen. (12 June 2015). "A Highrise for Peregrines". National Audubon Society.