Ribbon cuttings: No. 8 Baltimore tech trend of 2016

The end of the year is a time to think about what’s next for 2017, but it’s also worth reflecting on how we got here. We’re looking back at some of the themes that kept coming up in our coverage of Baltimore’s tech community in 2016. See the full list of 2016 trends here.
_________________________________________________________________
Leave it to innovators to rethink the ribbon cutting.
Robots performed the ceremonial duties at Under Armour’s new Lighthouse in Port Covington. At the massive Open Works makerspace in Station North, the scissors were 3D-printed. Spark Baltimore debuted with a flip of the switch, and lightbulbs went on.

Kevin Plank led countdown, but ribbon cutting left to something else at @UnderArmour manufacturing innovation center pic.twitter.com/mtzNSt6B8e

— Technical.ly Baltimore (@TechnicallyBMR) June 28, 2016

With the flurry of plans that were laid in 2015, it figures that the next year would see lots of openings.
The number of new spaces and buildings for startups and entrepreneurs kept the blades sharpened. They show Baltimore tech’s expanding geography. Impact Hub Baltimore in Station North immediately showed its intention to bring the community and leaders together with a full month of events. Along with the Lighthouse, sparks flew as Plank Industries opened the Foundery makerspace at City Garage in Port Covington. Johns Hopkins opened 1812 Ashland Ave. to house new incubator space. In Pigtown, Harbor Designs and Manufacturing debuted expanded space in the Wicomico Building. Co Lab Baltimore brought coworking to Old Goucher. On York Road, The Cube coworking space opened and Towson University debuted new incubator space. For life sciences and biotech, IMET’s Harbor Launch debuted in Columbus Center, and Mt. Sinai hospital opened an incubator.
Some of the city’s best-known startups also moved to new offices, with Allovue opening a new office in Remington’s newly-opened R. House, mybestbox in West Baltimore and Protenus taking space at the Tack Factory, to name just a couple.
We also attended lots of groundbreakings, so this trend could make another appearance next year.