Calendar

October 27–28, 2026 | MLK Library Conference Center + Around Washington, DC

Architecture is shaped by change and has the power to shape our city in return.

On October 27 and 28, AIA|DC’s annual conference, DesignDC 2026, brings together architects, designers, developers, policymakers, and the broader AEC community to explore this year’s theme: Architecture as a Tool for Change.

Across two days of inspiring education, provocative conversations, and behind-the-scenes tours, DesignDC will examine how architecture and design can respond to, and help drive positive change in Washington, DC and beyond.

Tuesday, October 27 | Learn + Connect

Join us at the MLK Library Conference Center from 10:00 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. for a full day of education focused on the challenges and opportunities reshaping architecture and the built environment.

Explore:

• AI and the future of architectural practice in an ever-changing profession
• Innovative approaches to DC’s housing crisis
• Designing for the needs of an aging population
• Community-centered design and best practices for meaningful engagement
• How architects and designers can become effective advocates for the built environment

9:30  -     Registration on the fifth floor of the MLK Library

10:00 -  Architects & the Economy, Presented by Michelle Russo, Honorary AIA 

The presentation will give attendees an overview of current economic conditions, how they influence firm operations and project pipelines, and the critical role architects play in driving economic activity and community development. Russo will also introduce practical sources and forecasting tools that can help professionals at all career stages better evaluate business conditions and plan strategically for the year ahead.

Location: Fifth Floor Auditorium

11:15 -  The Cost of Going Up, Presented by Will Teass AIA and Stephen Smith

This session examines how elevator regulations affect the affordability, feasibility, design, and supply of small multifamily housing in Washington, DC, and explores code reforms that can support safer, more flexible, and more attainable housing.

Location: Fifth Floor Auditorium

12:15-  Lunch Break

Location: Fourth Floor Conference Center

1:00-  Navigating the Evolving Regulatory Landscape in DC, Moderated by Neil Flanagan; Panelists Thomas Luebke, FAIA, Jill Cavanaugh, FAIA, David Maloney and Lauren McHale

This panel explores Washington, DC’s evolving local and federal regulatory landscape, providing architects and designers with practical insight into navigating approval, review, preservation, and oversight requirements.

Location: Fifth Floor Auditorium

2:10 Breakout Sessions:

Location: Fourth Floor Conference Center

The Architecture Was Never the Problem, Presented by Haley Jackson

This session examines the challenges and opportunities of preserving and adaptively reusing DC’s Brutalist federal buildings to revitalize their civic role and reshape public perceptions of their architectural and cultural value.

Architecture Without Architects, Presented by Amber Lombardo

This session examines how AI-enabled design is expanding beyond licensed architects, exploring the evolving role of professional expertise, the risks of unlicensed practice, and strategies for protecting architecture’s value through licensure, service design, and public engagement.

Landscape Architecture as a Tool for Change: Age Well, Presented by Connie Fan, FASLA

This session explores how evidence-based landscape architecture can transform senior living environments into therapeutic, accessible, and socially connected spaces that promote resident well-being while strengthening connections with the surrounding community.

3:20 -  Breakout Session II

Location: Fourth Floor Conference Center

The Wrecking Ball: Driving Community Resilience and Housing Equity through Value-Inclusive Design, Presented by Eric Harris, PhD, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

This session explores how Value-Inclusive Design can advance housing equity by centering community voices, cultural identity, affordable housing, and inclusive redevelopment to build more resilient and just communities.

An Unconventional Practice Model for Outsized Impact, Presented by Michael Winstanley AIA, Michael Balaban

This session explores how small, multidisciplinary architecture firms can rethink traditional practice models and strategically use AI to compete for transformational commissions and deliver greater civic and community impact.

4:30-  Breakout Session III

Location: Fourth Floor Conference Center

Advocacy 101, Panelists Amal Mahrouki, Haley Nicholson, Kimberly Bender, Roark Redwood, AIA, Brian Forehand, AIA

This workshop equips architects with practical tools and strategies to engage in District and federal policy advocacy, build relationships with policymakers, and turn their professional expertise into meaningful action.

Art in the Public Sector, Panelists Nicole Keroack, AIA, Chandler Householder, AIA, Sandy Bellamy, Peter Nohrden, ASLA

This session explores how the DGS Percent for Art program integrates commissioned public art into civic projects, offering insights and strategies for architects to create meaningful, community-centered landmarks.

6:00-  Afterparty at The Puttery

Tee up a relaxed end to the day with drinks, snacks, and some casual swings at The Puttery. It’s the perfect spot to reconnect with colleagues and make new connections. 

Wednesday, October 28 | Get Out + Explore

Take the conversation into the city with four architect and cultural leader-led tours showcasing Washington’s evolving built environment. Explore civic spaces, multifamily and co-living developments, and other projects that demonstrate how design can respond to changing communities and create new possibilities for the city.