Category: Featured Project

Featured Projects

Photo of Planetarium in Howard B Owens Science Center

Celebrating Award-Winning Design and Collaboration

The ABC Excellence in Construction Awards celebrate projects that embody exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and quality.

We are grateful to Prince George's County Public Schools and Greenberg Gibbons for entrusting us with the design of their projects. This recognition, however, is a tribute to the outstanding work of Nichols Contracting and Chesapeake Contracting Group, respectively. Contributing to their success is both an honor and a meaningful achievement for our team.

While both projects were recognized for their excellence in construction, each tells its own story of transformation and community impact. Let’s take a closer look at the Howard B. Owens Science Center and the Hunt Valley Towne Centre.

The Howard B. Owens Science Center's Commitment to Growth

Located in Lanham, Maryland, the Howard B. Owens Science Center serves as a hub for STEM education, programs, and resources for students from pre-K through 12th grade.

In partnership with Nichols Contracting, the newly renovated Science Center was designed to reimagine the learning environment and create a strong foundation for every student’s lifelong journey of discovery.

The renovation integrates custom décor, vibrant colors, textured flooring, atomic-pattern wall panels, and large murals to create an immersive, future-focused environment that energizes the space and reinforces the center’s mission of sparking curiosity and exploration in STEM.

A major highlight of the project is the new outdoor classroom, which creates opportunities for discovery outside traditional classroom spaces. Featuring a pollinator garden, composting station, weather station, Zen garden with large rock specimens, and a rain garden, this space offers hands-on opportunities for students to engage with environmental science and sustainability in real time.

The centerpiece of the Science Center is its in-house planetarium, designed to provide immersive, interactive explorations of nature, space, and our world. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and adaptable seating configurations, the planetarium offers students unparalleled opportunities to engage directly with astronomy, planetary systems, and the broader principles of science.

Hunt Valley Towne Centre, located in Cockeysville, MD, is a premier mixed-use destination spanning more than 925,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space.

Chesapeake Contracting Group partnered with JP2 throughout the construction process to deliver a successful project at Hunt Valley. With over 55 shops and services, Hunt Valley has long been a thriving hub of commerce, and this collaboration further enhances the experience and strengthens the center’s role as a community destination.

To support the continued growth of the Towne Centre, JP2 partnered with Greenberg Gibbons to design two new pad buildings featuring restaurants with outdoor seating. Additionally, a former Sears building on the west end was transformed into a Onelife Fitness center and an Ashley Furniture, bringing renewed life and energy to the property.

By revitalizing vacant spaces and strengthening walkability and accessibility, Hunt Valley Towne Centre now offers even more inviting places to shop, dine, and relax. These improvements not only attract new and returning visitors but also foster opportunities to connect. Whether with family, friends, or neighbors, building connections is at the heart of building community.

Hunt Valley Towne Centre continues to evolve as a destination where commerce and community meet.

Featured Project

The Opal at Largo Station

Luxury Rooted in Purpose:
Welcome to Opal Apartments

Just miles from the heart of the nation’s capital lies Largo­— a dynamic suburban enclave in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Strategically positioned among thriving commercial corridors, cultural landmarks, and regional transit networks, Largo has a history of being a lively spot for local professionals and growing families alike. 

At the center of it all stands Opal Largo Station, a thoughtfully designed multifamily development that showcases a natural interplay of contemporary design, refined living, and urban accessibility.

Through the shared vision of Klein Enterprises, The Dolben Company, and JP2, Opal Apartments is designed to mirror the vibrancy and character of Largo. This offers residents seamless access to the energy of the city while providing the comfort of a thoughtfully designed retreat. It’s a place where connectivity doesn’t compromise calm, and where every detail is designed to support the rhythms of modern life.

Located just steps from the Largo Metro Station, Opal offers residents immediate connectivity to Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, and surrounding areas of Maryland.

The development comprises 379 meticulously designed units, encompassing 570,639 square feet of modern living space that reflects a commitment to both aesthetic excellence and spatial efficiency.

Luxury, Location, and Lifestyle

In working with Klein Enterprises and The Dolben Company to design Opal Apartments, the vision was intentionally centered on promoting ease, comfort, and community. The location of the complex plays a critical role in shaping the experience of the residents. While having direct access to Largo Station and Washington, D.C., offers convenient connectivity and seamless travel, the apartment's location within a quieter urban neighborhood ensures an extra sense of safety.

Upon entry, residents are welcomed into a space that fosters the idea of luxury living. A striking moss wall formatted to read “Opal” paired with a sculptural round coffee and breakfast bar, evokes the ambiance of a luxury boutique hotel, inviting and elevated in equal measure. A sense of sophisticated comfort is included throughout each unit, with features like electronic entries, full-size appliances, quartz countertops, and high-end finishes. 

Designed for Connection and Community

Throughout the property, intentionally designed spaces reflect a deep understanding of the importance of connected living. Expansive communal lounges create an environment that encourages social connection, cementing the foundation to developing a strong community that extends within and around Opal apartments.

Nurturing a thriving community isn't limited to lively shared spaces—it also takes place in quiet moments of personal reflection and growth. Whether it's students focusing on their studies or local professionals mapping out the week ahead, access to calm, inspiring spaces empowers residents to reflect, recharge, and realign with their goals. These moments of solitude play a vital role in shaping confident individuals who are ready to engage meaningfully and share their unique perspectives with the broader community.

Opal Largo Station exemplifies a thoughtfully designed residence that enhances both the lives of its residents and the surrounding community. By providing private, comfortable spaces alongside state-of-the-art public amenities, it fosters effortless connections and a vibrant community experience. Through this balance of comfort and communal connection, Opal offers a living experience that goes far beyond the walls of home.

Opal's Grand Opening

On June 26th, Opal Largo Station celebrated the grand opening of its new development, welcoming project partners, community members, and county and regional elected officials. Throughout the event, speakers highlighted the positive impact the development will have on both future residents and the surrounding community. Guests enjoyed gourmet bites and refreshments as they toured the property, taking in the thoughtfully designed spaces and modern amenities. The event served as a perfect celebration, allowing those involved to experience and enjoy the results of their hard work.

Featured Project

The Service Center
Where Purpose, Design, and Community Converge

View @North Howard Street
All Photography By: Vivian Doering Copyright 2025

Baltimore is a city defined by its neighborhoods—each one rooted in rich history, grit, creativity, and community pride. At the crossroads of two such neighborhoods, a bold new project is reimagining what development can mean when architecture meets social investment.

The Service Center Baltimore, located in Remington is the brainchild of Seawall, the mission-driven developer renowned for creating places that empower people, nurture ideas, and strengthen communities.

At first glance, The Service Center stands as a striking new addition integrate into the urban landscape—a purpose-built, 80,000-square-foot facility filled with natural light and modern design.

Look closer, and it becomes clear: this is much more than just real estate.

With dynamic office spaces designed for mission-driven organizations and thoughtfully integrated housing, the Service Center is a community hub built from the ground up to serve, support, and uplift.

The housing component features design-forward, attainable apartments that prioritize natural light, flexible layouts, and shared communal amenities—spaces intentionally crafted for young professionals and creatives alike.

Residents don’t just live here—they become part of a purpose-driven ecosystem, with daily opportunities to engage deeply with neighbors, contribute to civic life, and collaborate alongside the changemakers who share this vibrant, interconnected space.

Design as a Tool for Empowerment

Every inch of the Service Center was conceived with purpose. JP2 and Seawall share a design philosophy that architecture is deeply human-centered—rooted in the belief that the built environment shapes how we live, work, connect, and contribute. The building not only honors the area’s architectural history but also models sustainable, inclusive growth. The design fosters openness, accessibility, and collaboration, encouraging interaction across industries and communities.

From communal gathering spaces to intentional sightlines that frame the surrounding neighborhoods, the building’s design invites transparency, creativity, and engagement. It's a place where nonprofits, social enterprises, and purpose-driven businesses can thrive side-by-side—physically close, but also aligned in mission.

Community Building Through Intentional Development

For Seawall, development is never just about bricks and mortar—it’s about people. The Service Center is an embodiment of that ethos. Located amid vibrant murals, corner eateries, and generational homes, it reflects and supports the surrounding community. This is not gentrification—it’s regeneration with heart. By prioritizing community involvement, affordable commercial rents, and locally rooted tenants, the project serves as an engine for equitable economic development.

One of the most innovative aspects is The Service Works program, which connects apartment residents to pre-vetted volunteering opportunities with Baltimore-based nonprofits. From mentoring youth to neighborhood clean-ups, residents can engage directly in the city’s challenges and triumphs. Each hour volunteered is matched by a donation to the nonprofit served, reinforcing a local economy of goodwill and tangible support.

This kind of program isn’t just thoughtful—it’s strategic. It creates a ripple effect of civic participation, social trust, and shared responsibility. It also sends a clear message: that good design isn’t only aesthetic—it’s ethical, relational, and deeply invested in place.

Architecture That Anchors a New Narrative

That narrative is about more than space—it’s about stewardship. The Service Center is proof that architecture can catalyze connection, that design can reinforce dignity, and that development, when done right, can be an instrument of inclusion.

At a time when many cities face disinvestment or extractive growth, Baltimore has doubled-down. The Service Center is a model for how we can design our way toward more just futures—where beautiful buildings house bold ideas, and where communities aren’t displaced, but empowered.

This is what it looks like to build with purpose.

And this is what it means to truly serve.

Featured Project

American Cancer Society Hope Lodge

LOUNGE AND DINING SPACES

The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Baltimore is more than just a place to stay - it's a sanctuary of hope, healing, and community for those undergoing cancer treatment. Offering free lodging for patients and caregivers traveling to local medical facilities, Hope Lodge provides an environment where resilience grows and meaningful connections thrive.

JP2's architectural vision embraces the balance between community and solitude, recognizing that healing often requires moments of shared joy and peaceful reflection. Thoughtfully designed spaces feature natural textiles, calming colors, and organic elements to nurture the mind and body alike. Guests can find serenity in private rooms or connection in communal areas.

The shared kitchen serves as the heart of the Lodge, where guests cook, share stories, and rediscover joy through simple rituals. Landscaped outdoor spaces offer opportunities for movement, gathering, or quiet solitude, extending the warmth of the Lodge beyond its walls.

SHARED KITCHEN AND OUTSIDE COURTYARD
All Renderings by JP2 Architects, LLC, Copyright 2025

Groundbreaking for the New Baltimore Hope Lodge: A New Era of Care and Comfort

On April 8, we celebrated the groundbreaking for the New Baltimore Hope Lodge, a transformative step forward in providing comfort, dignity, and hope to cancer patients and their families. This new chapter builds upon the incredible work Hope Lodge has already accomplished in the Baltimore community, while expanding its ability to serve those in need.

The New Baltimore Hope Lodge will provide eight additional rooms, greatly expanding care capacity and ensuring more patients have access to a supportive environment during their treatment journey. More than just a place to stay, the new Hope Lodge creates a community where patients can connect with others undergoing life-changing treatments—finding strength and solidarity in shared experiences.

We are building a place for people we may never meet, but through our work, we have the opportunity to change their world. Thoughtful design has the power to heal, uplift, and inspire, and the New Baltimore Hope Lodge will stand as a testament to the enduring impact of creating spaces that offer not only shelter, but also hope."

Recently, JP2 helped celebrate the Southern Streams Health and Wellness Center groundbreaking. Bishop Donte Hickman was joined by community leaders such as Governor Wes Moore, Senator Ben Cardin, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Cory McCray, Congressman Hon. Kweisi Mfume, and many others to acknowledge this monumental event.