Mahan Rykiel Associates, Inc.

09/04/2026

Good things happen when young people have the vision—and the determination—to make a difference.

Mahan Rykiel Associates is proud to lend a little time and expertise to two inspiring interns working with Nadine and Women Home Preservation on a community project near our work at 1420 West Baltimore Street.

Through our relationship with Nadine and the 1420 project, we learned about the students’ efforts to transform a nearby shed into a welcoming event space for their neighborhood. They reached out to us for some advice on planting and local sign fabrication, and we were happy to help.

These young people are working hard to make a difference in a challenging neighborhood. They have big ideas, lots of energy, and a real vision for how this little space can become something meaningful for their community. Now, they’re fundraising to make their vision for the shed and event space a reality.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to support their efforts and cheer them on along the way. We can’t wait to see what they create! ❤️ Here is some news coverage from WBAL-TV about this project. https://www.wbaltv.com/article/the-shed-1416-baltimore-college-students-reimagine-abandoned/73581845

Two college students are leading a revitalization project in West Baltimore, focusing on transforming a long-abandoned shed into a community event space.

09/01/2026

🌿 Rash Field Park – Phase Two is almost here!

Last Thursday, Mahan Rykiel Associates was excited to join ULI Baltimore Content Before Cocktails for a special behind-the-scenes walking tour of the soon-to-open Phase Two expansion of Rash Field Park.

Scott Rykiel of Mahan Rykiel Associates and Dan Taylor of Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore shared the story behind the design and the evolution of the park — and there is a lot to look forward to!

Building on the success of Phase One, which quickly became one of the Inner Harbor’s most active destinations, Phase Two adds five new acres and expands Rash Field to more than eight acres of recreation, wellness, gardens and waterfront spaces.

Highlights include:

Waterfront beach with seating and shade
Volleyball courts
Pickleball courts
Playground
Fitness course
Rock garden and habitat features for native birds
Pride of Baltimore Memorial
Beautiful walking paths surrounded by native plantings and hundreds of boulders

And the best part? Rash Field Park – Phase Two opens to the public next week!

We’re proud to have played a role in creating this new chapter for one of Baltimore’s most beloved waterfront destinations. We can’t wait to see the community enjoying it!

08/28/2026

🥯☕ Farewell, Ziyang! 💙

Yesterday, we gathered for pastries and bagels to wish our Baltimore summer intern, Ziyang, a fond farewell! Before she heads back to RISD, we sent her off with a care package packed with some Baltimore favorites—Otterbein and Berger cookies, Old Bay UTZ chips, a Maryland-themed YETI-style mug, a Mahan Rykiel coffee mug, and, of course, a plush Mr. Trash Wheel!

Thank you, Ziyang, for all of your hard work and help this summer. We loved having you on the team and wish you a fantastic year at RISD!

08/27/2026

A Little Preview of Rash Field Park Phase II!

Yesterday, Plano-Coudon hosted a special preview tour and pickleball party for the design and project team at the new Phase II of Rash Field Park in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Mahan Rykiel Associates has been proud to work on Rash Field since 2015, when we developed the master plan. It’s incredibly rewarding to see this next phase come to life after years of collaboration with so many talented partners.

Phase II adds nature play, volleyball, pickleball, exercise and play areas, hammocks and lounge seating overlooking the harbor, and the Pride of Baltimore Memorial.

A special thank you to Plano-Coudon for hosting yesterday’s preview, and to all of our project partners who helped make this incredible park possible.

We’re looking forward to another tour this afternoon with ULI Content Before Cocktails from 4–6 PM, weather permitting. Hope to see you there!

08/21/2026

Cheers to a great summer! 🍻

We celebrated our two talented summer interns with a happy hour at Union Craft Brewing yesterday evening! Evelyn spent the summer with our Philadelphia office, while Ziyang joined our Baltimore team.

A big thank you to Evelyn and Ziyang for all of your hard work, creativity, and contributions this summer. We’ve loved having you as part of the Mahan Rykiel team and are grateful for all you’ve brought to our offices!

08/19/2026

💦 Making a Splash in Baltimore County!

Today marked the groundbreaking for Baltimore County Recreation and Park’s first public splash pad at Northwest Regional Park in Owings Mills!

Scheduled to open in 2028, the new splash pad will build on the popularity of the existing Ravens Playground, helping make Northwest Regional Park an even greater destination for families. Designed with accessibility, shade, and new opportunities for play at the forefront, the project will bring a fun and welcoming new amenity to the community.

County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, Drew Emmer, Chief of Capital Planning and Development for Baltimore County Recreation and Parks, and other County leaders joined today’s groundbreaking celebration.
The project was designed by Mahan Rykiel Associates, led by Mark Pelusi, Principal, and Mia Quinto, Associate, in collaboration with RK&K, JP2 Architects, Cloward H2O, CEI, and CCJM. We’re excited to share a few renderings of the design vision—and even more excited to see kids making a splash when it opens!

07/31/2026

We're thrilled to celebrate Jingpeng (Peng) Gu, President of Mahan Rykiel Associates, for being named to The Daily Record's inaugural MD500 in the Architecture category.

The MD500 highlights Maryland's leaders across business, law, nonprofits, higher education, architecture, and other industries. Selected through The Daily Record's independent editorial research, the MD500 recognizes Maryland's most influential leaders—individuals whose vision, leadership, and impact are helping shape the future of the state.

We couldn't be more proud to see her recognized among Maryland's most influential leaders.

07/30/2026

Happy National Intern Day! 🌿
Today we're celebrating two talented interns who have contributed their creativity, curiosity, and passion to our work this summer: Ziyang Liu in our Baltimore office and Evelyn Bartner in our Philadelphia office.
As emerging designers, they bring fresh perspectives, thoughtful ideas, and a commitment to creating places that enrich communities and connect people with the landscape. We're grateful for their contributions and excited to be part of their professional journey.
We're especially proud that many members of our team began their careers as interns, reflecting our long-standing commitment to investing in emerging professionals and fostering future leaders in design.
Thank you, Ziyang and Evelyn, for your hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication. We're proud to have you on the Mahan Rykiel team.
Happy National Intern Day! 🌱

07/16/2026

Excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of Frederick Brickworks! 🎉
This transformative mixed-use development honors the legacy of the former Frederick Brick Works—whose iconic “Frederick reds” helped shape the city's character—while creating a vibrant future with new homes, retail, dining, parks, and public spaces.

Mahan Rykiel's design of the public realm weaves together streetscapes, promenades, courtyards, plazas, and gathering spaces to create a walkable, welcoming destination for generations to come.

Congratulations to Greenberg Gibbons and the entire project team on reaching this important milestone. We’re thrilled to help write the next chapter of
Frederick’s story.

07/10/2026

The Mahan Rykiel team spent the day visiting three outstanding Maryland horticultural destinations. Our first stop was The Perennial Farm, where owner, Rick Watson, and Territory Manager, Rich Poulin, gave us an in-depth tour of their operations and introduced us to exciting new perennial and grass cultivars that are hardy, beautiful, and deer resistant.

Next, we visited Emory Knoll Farms, where owners Ryan Butcher and Arden Pontasch shared how they grow the innovative sedums and other plant material that have made them North America's leading wholesale nursery for extensive green roofs. We also had the opportunity to meet Ed Snodgrass, whose family has farmed the property since 1848 and who is widely recognized as a pioneer in green roof horticulture.

We wrapped up the day at Ladew Topiary Gardens, where Executive Director, Emily Emerick, led us through the gardens. Scott Rykiel shared the story behind Mahan Rykiel's design of the Shade Garden, while Tom McGilloway discussed the master plan that Mahan Rykiel is currently developing for Ladew Topiary Gardens as we toured the Cottage Garden, Iris Garden, and other garden rooms.

The perfect ending? Pizza, local brews, and great company at Inverness Brewing.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our hosts for sharing your expertise and hospitality, and to Scott Scarfone, Terry Burns, and Tom McGilloway for organizing such an inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and fun!