Vertical AE is a full-service architecture firm working to build and serve intergenerational communities through an architecture that advances learning, knowledge creation, and collaboration in spaces reimagined for everyday life. We believe our lives are most fulfilling when learning is embedded in all we do. And communities are strong, successful, and resilient when they enable members to be lifelong learners working with a shared sense of purpose while also pursuing individual interests. We therefore aim to work not only within traditional boundaries of the education sector but beyond into residential, commercial, religious, and other institutional sectors such as senior living. We regard a building’s walls as serving not only to contain the activities of daily life but also to vertically connect and ground those activities to a landscape of learning. Thus the name “Vertical.”
“Vertical” has another meaning for us as we strive to provide a seamless and efficient experience for clients through the vertical integration of processes ranging from research to construction. We are adept at upfront research-driven strategic thinking as well as the use of Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) tools for efficient project realization. Regardless of complexity or scale, we work to ensure that every decision along the way is in alignment with a client’s vision.
Our firm’s name notwithstanding, we also take a horizontal approach to the practice of architecture. We collaborate with - and value the input from - other design professionals who enable us to craft a team with the capacity and expertise to meet a specific project's demands. We can be big or we can be small but we are always nimble. We understand that all projects require vertical, horizontal, and sometimes diagonal perspectives.
We are certified to provide Architectural Services as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) with the City of Baltimore (Cert# 20-376545) and also as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with the State of Maryland (Cert# 21-203).