Founded in 1983, Mahan Rykiel Associates is a 35 person landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with an office in Baltimore Maryland. The firm works to imagine harmonious connections between people, environments, and each other. Research and discovery guide project development that range from public parks, civic plazas, state infrastructure, downtown and neighborhood plans, academic institutions, corporate campuses, mixeduse housing, private residences, healthcare facilities, hotels, and commercial centers. The firm cultivates this diversity to deepen and broaden its creative capacity to shape the built environment. Active collaboration across disciplines and sectors ensures that technical knowledge and resources are leveraged in support of each project.
Mahan Rykiel Associates’ philosophy centers on the core pursuit of design – to construct meaning and build relationships in the world. The firm seeks to realize this in every project as it articulates ideas in matter through design. This act is born and reborn at every site, with every client and every collaborator. Research, dialogue, and discovery enable the real to be shaped by imagination – giving form to the invisible and substance to the intangible.
Our approach starts with you, understanding your motivations, vision and desired outcomes for your project. 35 years designing highly successful places has taught us that good design stems from an acute ability to listen to our clients. Every project, regardless of size or complexity, begins with communication, so that we understand your needs, exploration, so that we can fill out your vision, and confirmation, to assure that our solutions align with your goals. Deep, informed thinking and a method that creates lasting partnerships with our clients are not additional services.
Our process is structured by Mahan Rykiel Associates’ Collaborative Design Research (CDR) method. This provides a structured framework for design and planning that is efficient, pragmatic, and purposeful. Throughout the CDR process, MRA works with its clients and stakeholders to align values, program requirements, performance metrics (ecological, economic, and cultural), and budgets to create inspired plans and landscape strategies that celebrate each project’s unique identity. The flexibility of the CDR method makes it an essential tool for the firm; providing clients a vehicle to establish a basis for mutual expectations and project evaluation, regardless of scale or complexity.
2025
Ewell Plaza
-PA ASLA Honor Award
2020 K Street
-MD ASLA Merit Award
Springsong Museum
-MD ASLA Merit Award
2024
Merriweather District - Colorburst Park
-MD ASLA Honor Award
Annapolis City Dock
-MD ASLA Merit Award
Appian Rooftop Terrace
-MD ASLA Merit Award
Chevy Chase Lakes
-MD ASLA Merit Award
Lower Stony Run Strategic Plan
-MD ASLA Merit Award
2023
Rash Field Park Phase II
– Maryland ASLA Traveling Award of Innovative Excellence
UMBC Grove Plaza & Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building
– Maryland ASLA Honor Award
Leonardtown Strategic Planning Project
– Maryland ASLA Honor Award
The Mills Building
– Maryland ASLA Honor Award
2022
Rash Field
– Maryland ASLA Honor Award for General Design
– ULI Wavemaker Award
-ULI People’s Choice Award
ADA University
Maryland ASLA Traveling Award of Innovative Excellence
UMCP Clark Hall
Maryland ASLA Honor Award
2021
Parsons Island Conservation and
Regeneration Plan
ASLA Honor Award for Analysis and Planning
Ellicott City Watershed Master Plan
Maryland ASLA’s Traveling Award of Innovative Excellence
Universities at Shady Grove Biomedical Sciences
& Engineering Building
– AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Awards
– Maryland ASLA Honor Award
– Montgomery Planning Design Excellence Award: Excellence in Building and Site Design
– AIA Potomac Valley Honor Award: Institutional Architecture
– AIA Potomac Valley PV Award: Recognizing “Best in Show” Design Exemplifying Elements of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence
Bennett’s Village Playground
Potomac ASLA Honor Award
Maryland ASLA Merit Award
The Collection at Chevy Chase
Maryland ASLA Honor Award
The Mid-Atlantic Meadow Guide
Maryland ASLA Honor Award
2020
Ballston Quarter
Silver Sustainable Gold ICSC North America Design & Development Awards Honor & 2020 VA ASLA Merit Award
Rash Field
MD ASLA Honor Award
Suburban Square
MD ASLA Merit Award
Seeding Specificity: Materials and Methods for Novel Ecosystems
ASLA Honor Award in Research
2019
Ballston Quarter
Arlington Award, Naiop Award of Excellence and Delta Associates Award of Excellence
Lancaster Square
Merit, MD ASLA
Union Wharf
Honor Award, MD ASLA
2018
1405 Point
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
Design with Dredge
National American Society of Landscape Architects Award for Research
Birdland
Traveler’s Award for Innovation, MD ASLA
The Dredge
Merit Award, MD ASLA
Mosaic
Excellence in Mixed Use, D.C. Urban Land Institute
Eager Park
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
Merit Award, MD ASLA
2017
Eager Park
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
Anthem House
Grand Prize, Great American Living Award D.C,Wavemaker Award from Baltimore Chapter of Urban Land Institute
Green Tracks for Redline
Traveler’s Award for Innovation Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Pentagon Row
Honor Award, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Exelon
USGBC MD Chapter, Wintergreen Award
2016
Anthem Arboretum at Francis Scott Key School
Traveler’s Award for Innovation Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
Kaufman Cancer Center Healing Gardens
Honor Award, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Lancaster Economic Development Strategic Plan
Honor Award, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and award from
the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Patterson Park Master Plan
Merit Award, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
2015
Skyline Plaza, Frankfurt, Germany
Presidential Award of Excellence, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Four Seasons, Baltimore, Maryland
Merit Award, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
2014
Skyline Plaza, Frankfurt Germany
Longlisted, Landscape Architecture Awards World Architecture News
Children’s Garden at NIH
Honor Award, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Druid Hill Lake Master Plan
Merit Award, Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
University of Maryland Baltimore County Performing
Arts and Humanities Building
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
Broadway Square
Award for Innovations in Stormwater Management, Maryland Department of the Environment
Morgan State University Center for the Built
Environment and Infrastructure Studies
Finalist, Best Urban BMP in the Bay Award, Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Union Wharf
Wintergreen Award, Maryland Chapter of USGBC; Best Rental Apartment, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
2013
Pierce’s Park
Honor Award, Maryland/Potomac Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects;
Best in Class Award for Landscape and Paving, Brick in Architecture
Mosaic at Merrifield
Gold Design and Gold Sustainable Award, International Council of Shopping Centers
Green Tracks Pilot Project
Innovative Transportation Solutions Award, Maryland Chapter of WTS International
Union Wharf
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
Morgan State University Center for the Built
Environment and Infrastructure Studies
Wavemaker Award Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
Pentagon Row
DESIGNArlington Award, City of Arlington, VA
2012
T. Rowe Price Corporate Campus
Honor Award, Maryland/Potomac Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects
Mercy Medical Center – The Mary Catherine
Bunting Center Roof Gardens
Honor Award, Maryland/Potomac Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects
Mosaic at Merrifield
Outstanding Neighborhood or Small Area Plan, Capital Region American Planning Association
Four Seasons Baltimore
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
1111 Light Street
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
Morgan State University Center for the Built
Environment and Infrastructure Studies
Wintergreen Award, Maryland Chapter of USGBC
St. Paul’s School Library Addition
Wintergreen Award, Maryland Chapter of USGBC
2011
Mercy Medical Center – The Mary Catherine
Bunting Center
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore; Presidential Citation for Urban Design, Washington Chapter of AIA;Grand Award, LCA
Kennedy Krieger Institute Outpatient Therapy Garden
Honor Award, Maryland/Potomac Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects
The Fitzgerald
Global Award of Excellence, Urban Land Institute
2010
The Fitzgerald
Sustainable Buildings New Construction Award, Maryland Chapter of the USGBC
Annapolis Towne Centre
Wavemaker Award, Urban Land Institute, Baltimore
2009
Center Plaza
Merit Award, Maryland/Potomac Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects
2008
The Vue
Honor Award, Maryland/Potomac Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects
Woodrow Wilson Bridge
OPAL Award, American Society of Civil Engineers
Downtown Partnership Award Improvements to Baltimore City
2005
EstaçãoViana
International Design Award Winner, International Council of Shopping Centers
Baltimore Magazine
Baltimore’s Best, Best Landscape Architect
Legacy Village
International Council of Shopping Centers, Merit Certificate
Arkadia Shopping
International Council of Shopping Centers, European Award
War Memorial Plaza
Merit Award Maryland/Potomac ChapterAmerican Society of Landscape Architects
Church of the Good Shepherd Columbarium
Associated Builders and ContractorsAward of Excellence
Johns Hopkins Open Space
Associated Builders and Contractors, Merit Award
Towson University Center for the Arts
Associated Builders and Contractors, Merit Award
Hippodrome Theater
Preservation Project Award
2003
Troia- Eco Resort
Merit Award Maryland/ Potomac Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects
Westminster Canterbury at Chesapeake Bay
Design Award: New Construction, Nursing Homes/Long Term Care Management
University of Maryland Eastern Shore – Entry Drive
Maryland State Highway Administration Context Sensitive Design Award of Excellence
Canal Parkway
National Partnership for Highway Quality National Achievement Award , 2003 Gold Level Winner
2002
Johns Hopkins University Open Space Project
Merit Award, Maryland/Potomac Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects
Anne Arundel Medical Center Healing Garden
Healthcare Design Award
2001
Jones Falls Master Plan
Award of Merit, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
Canal Parkway
Award for Context Sensitive Design, “Maryland with Pride Program”, Maryland State Highway Administration
2000
“Thinking Beyond the Pavement” Design Education Program
Design for Transportation National Awards 2000, U.S. Department of Transportation
Health Care Finance Administration Headquarters
NAIOP Award of Excellence
Maryland Institute College of Art-The Commons
Outstanding Project, American School and University
Glenwood Library
Merit Award, Potomac Valley Chapter, American Institute of Architects
1999
Maryland Institute College of Art- The Commons
Merit Award, Maryland/ Potomac Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects
1998
Colombo Shopping
MIPIM Award, Cannes, France
1997
Carmelite Monastery
Award of Merit, Maryland/Potomac Chapters American Society of Landscape Architects
Murray Hill Residence
Merit Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
1996
Canal Parkway
Award of Merit, Maryland Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects
Annapolis Main Street Reconstruction
Award of Merit, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
Washington Metro- Branch Avenue Green Line Site Plan
Prince George’s County, Maryland Forest Conservation Ironwood Award, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
1994
Russell Street Plaza and Median
Honor Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
Central Light Rail Line
Honor Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
1991
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
National Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Grand Design Award, American Institute of Architects, Baltimore Chapter
The Master Plan for The World White Water Championships, Savage River
Maryland,Honor Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
The Master Planting Plan Design Guidelines for the I-270 Corridor
Merit Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
1987
Marlboro Square
Honor Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
Marlboro Square
Grand Design Award, Remodeling Magazine
1986
Hildreth Residence
Merit Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
1984
Sudbrook Park
Merit Award, Maryland Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
