Lerch Bates is excited to announce that the LB Building Science team has been awarded the contract to provide stabilization and restoration services for Baltimore’s iconic Bromo Seltzer Tower. The project will focus on evaluating, stabilizing and restoring the tower’s historic exterior façade while ensuring public safety and preserving one of the city’s most recognizable architectural landmarks.
The Bromo Tower is a 20-story, 289-foot Beaux-Arts clock tower that has been a defining feature of Baltimore’s skyline since its construction in 1911. Originally built as office and laboratory space for the Emerson Drug Company, the structure consists of a steel frame supporting concrete slabs and a multi-wythe load-bearing exterior masonry wall backed by terracotta block. In 2022, the building underwent a comprehensive exterior inspection using drone and camera technology, resulting in a detailed report documenting the façade’s visual condition and identifying deteriorating or failing envelope components. While several immediate distress conditions were addressed, the tower still requires a comprehensive restoration campaign to ensure its long-term stability.
As part of the next phase of the investigation, Team LB will use industrial rope access to conduct a hands-on evaluation of the tower’s exterior. This approach allows specialists to closely examine masonry and façade elements while significantly reducing the need for large-scale scaffolding. Rope access minimizes project costs, reduces disruption to surrounding streets and public spaces, and enhances safety for both the project team and the public.
The project will be delivered in coordination with the Baltimore City Department of General Services and several consulting partners to address visible deterioration and concealed conditions related to corrosion, aging materials and potential public safety concerns.
LB’s Building Science team, led by
Mark Howell, will guide the rehabilitation of the tower’s façade from assessment through construction close-out. The scope of work includes a rope-access façade survey and a contractor-assisted investigation, followed by architectural and engineering services to produce schematic design, design development and construction documents. The team will also prepare a competitive bid set, assist during the bidding phase and provide post-award quality assurance services to ensure the successful delivery of a stabilized and restored tower.
“Working on the historic Bromo Seltzer Tower is a meaningful opportunity for our team at Lerch Bates,” said Howell. “This project not only reflects our commitment to preserving important landmarks but also helps ensure that this iconic structure can be restored to its full beauty as a defining feature of Baltimore’s skyline.”
LB’s team of registered architects and engineers bring extensive experience in historic restoration, from on-site assessments through the selection of historically appropriate materials and repair strategies. LB prioritizes transparency and collaboration throughout the process to ensure that project stakeholders fully understand recommendations before key decision-making milestones.
With a local office through LB’s 2025 acquisition of
Building Envelope Consultants and Scientists, the LB
Baltimore Building Science team is currently leading restoration work on several significant regional landmarks, including Baltimore City Hall and the historic Belvedere Hotel, as well as other notable structures across the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region.
