BALTIMORE/COLLEGE PARK/HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (October 10, 2025) – Statewide nonprofit Preservation Maryland and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) today announced a partnership to breathe new life into the historic Ellicott City Jail, a landmark that has stood for more than 170 years.
Under the agreement, Preservation Maryland will lead a multimillion-dollar adaptive reuse of the long-vacant property, transforming it into a center for preservation, education, and community engagement. As part of the collaboration, UMD’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation will establish a presence within the rehabilitated building to advancing groundbreaking research and cultivate a pipeline of skilled, versatile practitioners.
“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 & 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.”
Built in 1851 and expanded in 1878, the Ellicott City Jail site has a complex history as it once held freedom seekers prior to the abolition of slavery in Maryland, and it later became the site of both documented and narrowly prevented lynchings. The jail served Howard County until the early 1980s and has been vacant since 2008.
The project is designed not only to adapt and reinterpret the site but also to create new public and nonprofit spaces, including:
- Collaborative office and research space for UMD faculty and students
- Community meeting and event space
- Historical interpretive exhibits acknowledging the site’s past
- Contemplative green space designed for reflection and resilience
- Headquarters for Preservation Maryland
Under the leadership of Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Michele Magalong, UMD plans to develop a research hub that connects experienced practitioners with students, technology, and resources to advance publications and fieldwork. Magalong also hopes to expose students to a variety of skills and techniques—from traditional and ancient preservation methods to AI-aided research and documentation—to build professional skillsets and ensure underrepresented trades aren’t lost to time.
The university’s longstanding relationship with Preservation Maryland, and their unified 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 pipeline into preservation by amassing a variety of people, skills and knowledge.”
“Given its multifaceted history, the former Ellicott City Jail serves as an ideal place where we can preserve and bring forth our county’s past, while breathing new life into a once vacant historic structure and giving it purpose once again,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “I thank Preservation Maryland for their partnership on this effort and commitment to moving this project forward and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for our historic town.”
In addition to the County’s ARPA grant, 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.Preservation Maryland anticipates breaking ground on this project in Spring 2026.