Spark Baltimore begins expansion

Coworking space operator, Spark Baltimore, has opened offices on the first floor of its Power Plant Live! building, attracting flocks of small and individual businesses to its door.

What started a few years ago as a coworking space is now stretching across a building. Following a recent expansion to space on a floor below where it started, Spark Baltimore is now on all six floors of 8 Market Place.

The Cordish Companies-owned coworking space has been expanding steadily since formally opening in January 2016 in a building that’s part of Inner Harbor’s Power Plant Live! It initially had two floors, then doubled in size in 2017.

The latest move put space for entrepreneurs and companies on the first floor of the building in space where we once attended events. That newest space has 19 private offices that can fit anywhere between one to four people, meeting space, and its own kitchen and coffee bar. There’s no single-desk coworking in the space.

The new area opened in March, and only one office remained available, said Shervonne Cherry, Spark’s Director of Community and Partnerships.

“We weren’t anticipating to be full this quickly, and I think that’s a testament to the growing need in the community,” said Cherry.

Coworking itself has been expanding in the area in recent years. Our 2019 list had more than 25 shared office spaces, Each has its own look and feel, but most offer a mix of flexible leasing, proximity to others building businesses and access to coffee.

Spark Baltimore represents one of the largest concentrations of entrepreneurs and young companies on that list. In all, more than 130 companies and a total of 400 people now use the space, Cherry said. Spark’s leaders look to build a diverse group of community-minded companies, and while there is an application process, they don’t limit membership based on what field a company is in. 

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