- October 16, 2025
- By School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation Staff
A Howard County building with a brutal past will be transformed into a new home for a Maryland nonprofit and space for the University of Maryland’s Historic Preservation Program through a new state partnership.
Under the agreement, UMD and Preservation Maryland will repurpose the historic Ellicott City Jail, a forbidding stone relic that has stood in the shadow of the county’s now-shuttered old courthouse for more than 170 years.
Preservation Maryland will lead the multimillion-dollar effort, funded by state, federal and private funds, to reinterpret the site with educational exhibits, event space and places for community contemplation. UMD’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation will establish a research office there for faculty and students to conduct research and cultivate a pipeline of skilled, versatile professionals in the field. The project, expected to break ground next spring, will also include a new headquarters for the nonprofit.
“This long-awaited project will serve as a catalyst for important preservation research across the region,” said the school’s dean, Dawn Jourdan. “Preservation Maryland has been a longstanding partner for our program. We look forward to continuing that collaboration in this historically significant space.”
Built in 1851 and expanded in 1878, the Ellicott City Jail houses a complex history, as it once held freedom seekers prior to the abolition of slavery in Maryland, and later became the site of both documented and narrowly prevented lynchings. The jail was last used as a detention facility in the early 1980s.
“Revitalizing the Ellicott City Jail site is about more than preserving a historic building—it’s about creating a place for community, research, reflection and renewal,” said Nicholas Redding, president and CEO of Preservation Maryland. “The project represents a unique collaboration between state, county, nonprofit and academic partners to breathe new life into one of Ellicott City’s most significant historic landmarks while addressing contemporary challenges.”
Under the leadership of Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Michele Magalong, UMD plans to develop a research hub to expose students to a variety of skills and techniques—from traditional preservation methods to AI-aided research and documentation—helping them build professional skillsets and ensure historic trades aren’t lost.
The university has partnered with Preservation Maryland on state, county and local preservation projects over the years as part of program coursework; in 2023, students completed a context study on the jail, which offers a framework for understanding its history and significance. The shared mission to preserve, protect and shed light on all historic resources and sites, make this a natural partnership, said Magalong,
“I’m excited to work with them to envision the future of preservation and how can we strengthen our workforce—from academics to practitioners on the ground,” she said. “We hope to create a more just career pipeline into preservation by amassing a variety of people, skills and knowledge.”
In addition to the federal pandemic relief funds, Preservation Maryland has also secured funding from Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, state legislative bond bills, and other federal and philanthropic sources. Michael Graves Architecture has been selected to lead design for the redevelopment project.
This article was based in part on a press release from Preservation Maryland.