On Saturday April 25th, 2026, The Congress for the New Urbanism Mid-Atlantic Chapter is convening a panel of local & national experts for a Symposium on Expressway Removal and the Future of the Jones Falls.
Removing lower portions of the Jones Falls Expressway (JFX) has been the object of study in the not-so-distant past, but real organized momentum has remained elusive. Now is the time for Baltimore City to face the issue of expressway removal head-on, and begin planning ahead.
How have local designers conceived of a liberated Jones Falls in the past? How have other cities succeeded in removing urban expressways? What elements are required in a successful expressway removal coalition? How do supporters make effective arguments in favor of removal?
These questions (and more) will be addressed in a series of presentations by the following panel of experts:
* Al Barry - (Semi-retired transportation planner; Chair of the Jones Falls Watershed Steering Committee)
* Pavlina Ilieva - (Principal at PI.KL; Baltimore City UDAAP Chair; former Morgan State SAP faculty)
* Gabriel Kroiz - (Associate Professor of Architecture at Morgan State SAP)
* Marc Wouters - (Principal at Marc Wouters Studios; expressway removal expert)
We will be joined by State Senator Antonio Hayes for some introductory remarks.
The Stevenson House recieved the 2026 Best Curb Appeal & Remodel Award at Baltimore Magazine's Home & Design Awards last night. Truly humbled by their thoughtful remarks below:
CURB APPEAL
Built in the 1950s and overlooking several acres of bucolic farmland, this Stevenson house was originally slated for demolition to make way for a new single-family home. However, the owners had a change of heart and instead explored the option to renovate. The plan from architects PI.KL Studio and general contractors PI.KL Construction included stained wood siding, a new metal roof, and FORM Garden Design landscape for a clean and modern look. "This is an excellent example of adaptive reuse and what a skilled architect and construction team can do," says Weed. "This borderline dilapidated, forgotten house has now been thoughtfully given a new life."
REMODEL
Instead of being demolished, this Stevenson home was renovated for a prolific art collector. The design process began with taking inventory of the positive attributes of the house, including its attractive gable form sitting atop a monolithic base with beautiful views from all vantage points. The PI.KL Baltimore-based design team then sought to increase both the ground floor's usability and the home's access to natural daylight. The original garage was absorbed into the ground floor's livable area, setting up a gallery-like entryway. "This project reimagines the home without erasing its identity," says Kamp. "Rather than demolish, the team reinvented it-opening up the interior, improving light and flow, and transforming a modest structure into a lasting, highly functional home. It's a smart, creative approach that gives the house decades of new life."
@baltmag@baltimorehome@piklstudio@structura_inc@formgardendesign@knownstar803@rob_lowe@courtneyricheson@ryancouto@dmryu
The Light House recieved the 2026 Best Design Build Contracts Award at Baltimore Magazine's Home & Design Awards last night. Truly humbled by their thoughtful remarks below:
Sitting on a once-empty corner lot in the historic Ridgley's Delight neighborhood, this home, with its warm, neutral palette of light-toned brick and dark-stained wood accents, has its main staircase in the center of the home, which allows natural light to penetrate deep into the space and illuminate the house from within. PI.KL Studio created interiors that are grounded with a matte stained concrete floor on the first level and natural, warm maple hardwood floors throughout the rest of the house. "This project teeters on the edge of having a commercial aesthetic," says Weed. "However, this is an elegant take on the Baltimore rowhome."
@baltmag@baltimorehome@piklstudio
Baronet Bathroom recieved the 2026 Best Bathroom Award at Baltimore Magazine's Home & Design Awards last night. Truly humbled by their thoughtful remarks below!
This primary bathroom renovation by PI.KL Studio architects is a case study in spatial consolidation and contemporary integration adapting seamlessly into a historic midcentury home. The goal was to make the space bigger by optimizing the existing bathroom through a more open flow and celebrating an existing opening to the walled courtyard. "Phenomenal detailing and peaceful material selection," says Weed.
"Impactful physical design relationships between the floor, ceiling, and fixtures."
@baltimorehome@baltmag@piklstudio@robbinscustombuilders
