Community Meditation Program

The Community Mediation Program (CMP) is a not-for-profit organization striving to reduce interpersonal conflict and community violence and animosity by increasing the use of non-violent conflict resolution strategies and by making mediation more accessible in Baltimore city.  CMP provides free mediation and teaches conflict resolution skills in neighborhoods, families, schools, businesses, and all across Baltimore.  Since its first mediation in 1996, CMP has grown to a staff of nineteen.

To accommodate their expanding staff and programs, the Community Mediation Program needed design assistance to renovate the exterior of their building in Waverly and to reconfigure the interior spaces, including extending an existing second floor mezzanine to create new office and mediation space – utilizing green building and sustainable practices where possible.  The NDC volunteer team included:

Megan Elcrat; Rubeling & Associates

Joel Blaine; Engineering and Technical Consultants

Valerie Smith; Ayers/Saint/Gross

Jason Neal and Bob Caldwell; Gensler

A few of the many pages of the final product are represented here:

Conceptual first floor scheme (above)

Facade improvement ideas (above)

The volunteers worked with the client to prioritize future wishes of CMP and to help them define their program needs and functional relations.  Several design options were developed until one was chosen that best fit the the goals of the Community Mediation Program and their budget.  Throughout the process, NDC volunteer Tom Liebel of Marks, Thomas Architects was special consultant on green building practices.  A list of Eco/Green/sustainability suggestions was prepared that identified how the design met these goals as well as how CMP could incorporate additional green features through construction options and office management.

The plans, drawings, and technical assistance provided by NDC allowed the Community Mediation Program to pursue a State Bond Bill for funding the interior renovation – which they were successful in receiving $175,000!  In addition, Baltimore was one of five sites in the United States selected to receive revitalization assistance through HGTV’s “Change the World, Start at Home” program, which provided $25,000 in cash and $100,000 in in-kind services to complete the exterior makeover of the building (stop by and see the progress at 3333 Greenmount Avenue).  For more information about the project visit CMP’s Building Renovation web page.