Catholic Relief Services Proposes New World Headquarters In Baltimore City

Catholic Relief Services
Wednesday, 13 November 2002

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) announced today its recent submission of a proposal to the City of Baltimore to develop a site near Camden Yards for its new world headquarters. The agency submitted the proposal jointly with RLJ Development and Quadrangle Development Corporation.

"We are immensely excited about this potential partnership with the city after a lengthy and extensive search for an appropriate location for our agency's new headquarters," said Ken Hackett, Executive Director for Catholic Relief Services. "Our preference has always been to stay in Baltimore City and we believe we have the right combination of factors in this proposal to accommodate all of our needs."

The proposal outlines the development of the two-block parking lot bordered by Pratt, Howard, Camden, and Paca Streets. The 200,000-square foot CRS office building would be constructed on the far west side of the property (bordered by Pratt, Paca, and Camden Streets). RLJ Development and Quadrangle intend to utilize the majority remainder of the site for a 950-room Convention Center hotel. An underground parking garage is planned for both projects.

CRS brought its world headquarters to 209 W. Fayette Street in Baltimore from New York City in 1989. As the agency has grown and expanded operations around the world, its headquarters staff has nearly doubled since 1995 to approximately 350 persons, with an annual budget exceeding $350 million. A strategic space study projected that the agency's space needs over the next 10 years will continue to grow.

As a result, CRS began the search for larger office space options in consultation with the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore Development Corporation. Numerous city locations were explored, but none until the Camden proposal were found suitable to the agency's growth demands and budgetary constraints. The close proximity of the Camden property to BWI Airport, Washington, DC and public transportation appealed to CRS because of the international travel required of its employees and because of its staff's commuting needs.

"This opportunity for our headquarters expansion will no doubt help us to improve the support given to our field operations around the world and will allow us to be good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us by our donors," Hackett said.

If the proposal is approved, CRS expects to begin architectural planning of its new building in early 2003.

Catholic Relief Services is the official relief and development agency of the United States Catholic community. Founded in 1943, the agency provides assistance to people in 87 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Catholic Relief Services provides assistance on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org