SouthBMore.com was recently invited to the grand opening of Key Tech’s expanded office at the former McHenry Theatre at 40 E. Cross St. in Federal Hill. While some may know there is an office entrance in the alley just beyond Abbey Burger Bistro and No Way Jose Cafe, it is fairly safe to say that few know just how large and incredibly beautiful this space is.
Key Tech is a product development company that started in 1998 by Jenny Regan, Scott Corey, Brian Lipford, and Keith Lipford. The company develops products such as medical devices, industrial products, and wearables. At the recent grand opening, the company’s engineers were showing off products such as an on-field concussion test using an iPad, a dental device for creating crowns, water quality technologies, and more.
Key Tech’s first office was in an incubator space at 1414 in Key Hwy. in Federal Hill. After several years of growth, they were looking to expand and were literally driving to sign a lease at Locust Point’s Tide Point when they received a call from developer Patrick Turner, who proposed a partnership to redevelop the former McHenry Theatre into office spaces. The theater opened in 1917 and later became a sports bar with batting cages and a driving range.
It was an opportunity Key Tech could not pass up. Plans were designed by architect Chris Pfaeffle, construction on the space began in 2001 and was completed in 2002. Blue Agave opened in the Charles St. side of the theater and Key Tech and Blue Sky Factory opened and occupied offices in the remainder of the space. Blue Sky Factory was later acquired by What Counts and relocated about a year ago, at which time Key Tech began construction to expand into the space.
The end result was beyond impressive. Check out these pictures courtesy of Alain Jaramillo:
Screen shot from Google Maps of their rooftop murals.
Photo from Cinema Treasures.org