Clipper Construction Nears Completion of Renovation of Waller Gallery in Baltimore

Clipper Construction, a construction company based in Baltimore, MD, is pleased to announce they are close to completing the renovation of the Waller Gallery in Baltimore. The Waller Gallery is a multidisciplinary art gallery that is focused on art produced by people of color. This art gallery has the purpose of supporting Baltimore artists and not just art collecting and exhibitions. It considers all types of art including design, craft, social practice, and digital art.

A spokesperson for Waller Gallery says, “We are passionate about engaging with artists at any stage of their practice. Notwithstanding the current political assault on artists. We will continue the tradition of black owned businesses in Baltimore. To help the art collecting community at large we offer dynamic art advisory services. Inquire through our email.”

The renovation work includes the addition of a new signage off of the gallery’s Calvert Street entrance to guide visitors. The bathroom had to be remodeled and expanded to include ADA access. A second entrance was to be added to the rear of the art gallery, providing direct access to the rear yard for possible outdoor events in the future. The conceptual design for the renovated art gallery also took into account the fire-rated separations between the residential parts of the building and the gallery itself.

Since the project was conceived when the COVID-19 pandemic was still new, one of the goals of the project was to find ways for the gallery to continue to operate even under COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations from the department of health. Thus, a social / physical distancing layout was also developed.

The renovation also included the replacement of the fluorescent lighting fixtures with a cohesive system of general and track lighting that would be more appropriate for art displays. The lighting design also included a linear LED downlight for a soft even wash over the space for when the artists are installing or removing their work. Downlights were also included for the exterior to offer a warm welcome for guests. Bollards were to be placed along the rear pathway and integrated with the landscaping. In addition, low level step lights were to be positioned along the walk.

This renovation project was made possible by the Central Baltimore Partnership and Jack Danna. The Central Baltimore Partnership is focused on the renaissance of Central Baltimore through the help of over 100 partners, including businesses (of all sizes), government agencies active in the 11 neighborhoods of Central Baltimore, and nonprofit organizations (ranging from small neighborhood associations to big universities and hospitals). The Central Baltimore area includes: Barclay, Charles North, Abell, Greenmount West, Harwood, Charles Village, Old Goucher, East Baltimore Midway, Oakenshawe, Wyman Park, Waverly Main Street (a commercial district taking part in the official Baltimore City Main Street Program), and Remington. The area also includes the Station North Arts District, which is a state designated arts and entertainment district.

Founded in 2021, Clipper Construction is a tech-enabled commercial general contractor offering construction services across a number of verticals, such as retail or office building fit-out, historical restoration, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use development. They leverage advanced technology to boost efficiencies in the construction process and make sure that projects are completed on schedule, according to budget, and that the results will surpass clients’ expectations. They are also taking advantage of their technological background to provide a better client experience using their custom client platform that has the purpose of achieving better communication and transparency compared to similar construction companies in the area.

A spokesperson for Clipper Construction says, “Our team of construction professionals specialize in projects size ranging from $50k to $5 million. Our expertise includes restaurants, multifamily, office space, retail, medical, industrial, non-profit, and more. Whatever your company's construction needs are, Clipper Construction is dedicated to providing you the highest level of service while delivering a quality deliverable that will move your business forward.”

Those who are interested in learning more about art gallery renovation in Baltimore and other construction services offered by Clipper Construction can check out their website or contact them on the phone or through email.