Merritt Clubs Canton originally opened in 2003 with a membership of approximately 1,500. With membership today topping 7,000, the club began to experience overcrowding. After evaluating how members were using the facility, the club determined that expansion was necessary. With a vision of more space for group fitness and the largest rooftop pool deck in Baltimore in mind, Merritt Clubs and Merritt Construction Services began to map out a plan to redevelop the location in 2015.
Located in an urban setting in the middle of a busy professional and retail center, the site was constrained and expansion options seemed limited. Ultimately, the redevelopment of Merritt Clubs Canton consisted of a $20 million, eight-story addition with a rooftop deck featuring two pools, a bar and a restaurant; 20,000 square feet of new, first-floor workout space; a ground-level, six-lane indoor pool; and six floors of garage parking. The main-level expansion included the installation of an indoor-outdoor turf area and an expanded children’s area, as well as a new café and lounge. The 25,000-square-foot rooftop pool deck is indeed the largest in Baltimore, and provides unparalleled 360-degree views of the city, a full-service kitchen and bar, elevator access, locker rooms and an outdoor shower.
The building’s aesthetic was designed to incorporate elements of the surrounding Canton community, with a nod toward the industrial history of the site’s location. For example, the building’s facade included materials such as corrugated metal, stainless steel mesh, metal framing and concrete.
Bentley University Multipurpose Arena