One Calvert Plaza

One Calvert Plaza is a 16-story office building in downtown Baltimore designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style. The structure features a stone exterior with bronze falcon sculptures decorating the main entrance columns and window zones at street level.

The building was completed in 1901 by the architectural firm D.H. Burnham and Company and stood as Baltimore's tallest structure at that time. Its height record lasted until 1911, when the Bromo-Seltzer Tower became taller.

The building influenced author Dashiell Hammett during his time at the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, inspiring elements in his novel The Maltese Falcon.

The building sits at the intersection of East Baltimore Street and South Calvert Street within Baltimore's financial district and continues to serve as office space. Its central location makes it easy to visit while exploring the downtown historic architecture and surrounding businesses.

The structure survived the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, which reached extreme temperatures, thanks to its terra cotta fireproofing system. This durability during such a devastating event demonstrates how advanced the building techniques of that era had become.

Location: Maryland

Architects: D. H. Burnham & Company

Architectural style: Beaux-Arts

Floors above the ground: 16

GPS coordinates: 39.28970,-76.61220

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:04