The Columbus Center: Baltimore’s Venue for Community Events & Innovation

The Columbus Center is an architecturally striking 250,000 square foot multi-functional facility in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

It is a hub for Maryland’s blossoming tech-startup culture and offers prestigious office spaces, wet labs, meeting rooms, and inspiring event spaces.

Over the years, we have hosted a wide variety of small and large events for businesses, non-profit organizations and the community. Examples include League of American Orchestras events, TEDCO ICE Awards Ceremonies--an event that recognizes innovation and corporate excellence in tech startups, Big Brothers Big Sisters gala, and Light City Innovation Conference.

Since 2016, the Columbus Center has been an integral part of Baltimore’s Light City celebration. The festival features a program of discussions and learning during the day, but after dark, the city comes alive with lights, performances, and music.

History of the Columbus Center

In 1998, the center’s largest tenant, the University System of Maryland, purchased the facility and assumed management responsibility.

In 2010, there was a reorganization which resulted in the creation of the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET). IMET is a joint University System of Maryland research institute capitalizing on the strengths of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the University of Maryland Baltimore. The Columbus Center facility is managed and operated by UMBC.

Today, the missions of exploration and collaboration continue. By drawing faculty and students from the University System of Maryland and scientists from around the world, IMET faculty conduct research into marine and coastal environments. Towson University's Center for STEM Excellence also furthers this mission at the Columbus Center, by serving Maryland's K-12 schools through outreach programs supporting science education.