More than building buildings

Hord Coplan Macht is an integrated firm offering planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design with offices in Baltimore, Denver, and the DC Metro area. With the belief that excellent design cannot happen without exceptional people, the firm continues to grow even after 40 years. CEO Lee Coplan and his team pride themselves on hiring talented people, inspiring them with work that they love and building a team that becomes family. That’s why their work environment is so important —it is a place for that family to share ideas, collaborate and ultimately thrive. So what turned their current office space in Baltimore into a new home for this 170-member team?

Hord Coplan Macht believes that all successful projects start by listening to and understanding what users and stakeholders really need and ultimately desire. JLL’s Matt Haas did just that when it came to finding Lee and his team a new space. In 2016, Hord Coplan Macht was looking to consolidate their two CBD office locations into one. Lee wanted to move all employees to the same floor to enhance communication and collaboration among the team. Unfortunately, a contiguous space large enough to accommodate the firm was not available in their building. So, Lee and his team engaged Matt to find a solution.

As a progressive architecture firm, Hord Coplan Macht was looking for unique, eclectic space near walkable amenities. Matt leveraged JLL’s deep resources to find an opportunity close to the company’s current building, with a full floor available to accommodate continuous growth. Matt negotiated free rent, a large tenant improvement package, a competitive rental rate and expansion rights on behalf of the firm. Today, Hord Coplan Macht calls the top floor of 700 East Pratt Street home, which allowed them to stay on the same block. The space has its own character with exposed brick, high ceilings and top floor views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The firm’s new workspace is conducive to a more collaborative culture with its open floor plan and mix of private areas and huddle rooms located throughout the office. Most importantly, the team sits together on one floor, giving them the opportunity to work together and build upon the collaborative dynamic.

After the success of this project, Lee hired Matt to help him find office space for the firm’s DC Metro office. Matt used the same knowledge he gathered to find the Baltimore office and applied it to this search. Ultimately, Matt and JLL colleague, Kelly Katz identified and secured space with favorable terms for Hord Coplan Macht in a building in Alexandria, VA with the same owner as the firm’s building in Baltimore.