29-year-old Baltimore-based marketing and communications firm to join Baltimore Metropolitan Council and KCI Technologies in new office space

Baltimore, Md. - gkv, a 29-year-old full-service marketing and communications firm based in Baltimore, announced today its decision to relocate its corporate headquarters to McHenry Row - a $117 million commercial, retail and residential complex located at Key Highway and East Fort Avenue in Locust Point. After nearly 30 years of business in downtown Baltimore, gkv will officially join the Baltimore skyline with the addition of its name to the five-story McHenry Row office building overlooking Federal Hill and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

One of Maryland’s oldest marketing and communications firms, gkv has been operating out of the fourth floor of The Cascade Building at the Tide Point campus - the renovated former Proctor & Gamble Plant - located at 1030 Hull Street in Locust Point for nearly a decade. The decision to relocate was based on accessibility of the development for out-of-town Clients and the many amenities the mixed-use project offers to gkv employees.

“gkv has called downtown Baltimore home for 29 years, so we are pleased to announce that we will continue to stay true to our Baltimore roots with our upcoming relocation to McHenry Row,” said Roger Gray, chairman and CEO of gkv. “McHenry Row represents the essence of the Baltimore community by offering a prime location for both Clients and employees with direct access to Interstate I-95 in addition to free covered parking.”

Founded in 1981, gkv specializes in creating and executing breakthrough strategies for Challenger Brands - brands typically outspent by category leaders. gkv serves local, regional, national and international Clients in industries such as travel and tourism; consumer and packaged goods; financial services; B2B; retail; health insurance; health care; sports, gaming and attractions; luxury items; B2G and cause marketing.

Over the years, gkv has received national and international honors for its work in the advertising industry, including being named an international shortlist finalist at the Cannes Lions International Festival and recipient of multiple awards from the American Advertising Federation (AAF), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International HSMAI). gkv’s competitors range from national to international advertising agencies based in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

Currently under construction, the McHenry Row office building is scheduled to be complete by fall 2010 with the rest of the project completed in June 2011. The complex combines 130,000 square feet of retail space, including a 61,000-square-foot Harris Teeter grocery store; 65,000 square feet of commercial office space referred to as “The Offices at McHenry Row;” 250 residential apartments and two covered garages totaling more than 900 spaces.

Designed for retail and commercial office use, The Offices at McHenry Row, is a five-story building constructed with brick and glass that has an additional lower level. The building’s ground floor and first floor levels combine for a total of 22,000 square feet and will accommodate retail space. Floors two through five include 16,000-square-foot plates and will accommodate office space.

Represented by MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC in the recent lease agreement, gkv is scheduled to move to its new location in early 2011. The company’s 85 employees will occupy the entire fourth floor and part of the third floor of The Offices at McHenry Row. Design Collective, Inc. is currently developing the space for gkv’s new home.

“McHenry Row has been a shining star in an otherwise conservative office leasing and retail leasing environment in the greater Baltimore City metropolitan region within the past two years,” said Mark Sapperstein, principal of 28 Walker Development. “To successfully attract relatively large and highly-recognizable users of Class A space to this development, like gkv, speaks extremely well to its quality of location, feasibility and marketability of design and availability of retail amenities.”

Commercial Retail Estate Brokerage Firm, NAI KLNB, in conjunction with Cushman & Wakefield handled the commercial office space marketing and leasing aspect of the office portion of the project for 28 Walker Development. The retail portion of the project is being leased by Street Sense.

“There is renewed energy along the eastern edge of Baltimore City and an increasing number of service-oriented companies are selecting this location as a way to attract and retain quality workforces,” said Joe Nolan of NAI KLNB. “The added element of retail including the prestigious Harris Teeter grocer and restaurant amenities creates a critical mass of people for additional excitement, as well as convenience options that benefit the time-deprived office worker. The project also includes free covered parking for all of its retail and office tenants and their visitors.”

In addition to gkv, McHenry Row has also negotiated commercial leases with Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) and KCI Technologies, totaling approximately 48,000 square feet of space at The Offices at McHenry Row, bringing the pre-leasing of the building to 75% capacity.

About gkv
gkv is a 29-year-old full-service integrated marketing communications firm specializing in helping challenger brands compete in hyper-competitive categories. With billings of more than $111 million, gkv provides a complete range of communications services including creative development, graphic design, production, media planning and buying, interactive, community relations, brand identity development, research, public relations, direct marketing, crisis communications, grassroots and word of mouth. gkv’s diverse international Client roster includes companies in travel and tourism, snacks and beverages, financial services, health industries and cause marketing. The Agency is headquartered at Tide Point, the renovated former Procter & Gamble plant in Baltimore, Md. Visit http://gkv.com/or http://blog.gkv.com.

About McHenry Row
McHenry Row is a mixed-use development on 9.5 acres located in the Baltimore City neighborhood of Locust Point at the intersection of Fort Avenue and Key Highway, close to Fort McHenry and just off I-95 (exit 55 Key Highway).The $117 million “main street” project is already under construction with completion scheduled for 2011. It includes two mid-rise residential buildings with a total of 250 apartment homes offering one- and two-bedroom floor plans. On the street level, the center will include over 130,000 square feet of retail space, anchored by a 61,000 sq. ft. Harris Teeter grocery store. Beneath the residential units there will be additional retail space and restaurants including M&T Bank, PNC, Greene Turtle, Dunkin’ Donuts and Hair Cuttery, as well as several other retail tenants. McHenry Row will also have a five story Class A office building with 75% of the available office space already leased. Parking will be provided by two structured garages with 900 spaces and an additional 80 short term surface spaces. Visit www.McHenryRow.com

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