Join us for our last event of the year! A combined Technical Presentation and Holiday Happy Hour!

In celebration of Bechtel’s 125th anniversary, SGH partnered with A2 Design, Inc. to install the historic WaaTeeKaa railcar as part of a commemorative exhibit located at the Bechtel HQ in Reston, Virginia. The railcar, measuring 52 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 14 feet high, features a wood-framed structure supported by its original trucks. The exhibit includes a concrete access
platform with integrated stairs and ramps, sheltered by a cantilevered steel canopy with a 3,000 sq ft glass roof.

SGH provided structural engineering and building enclosure consulting for evaluation and renovation of the existing railcar and design the new steel and PV glass canopy and concrete access platform.

Schedule:
6pm-7pm Presentation at District Architecture Center
7pm-9pm Happy Hour at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern

Presented by:

Gillian Love, P.E.
Gillian Love is a Senior Project Manager in the Washington, DC office of SGH. She received her BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and her MS in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego. Gillian is a licensed Professional Engineer in DC, MD, and VA. Her over 17 years of experience in structural engineering consulting spans design of new structures, renovation and repair of existing buildings, and investigation of structural failures. She aims to provide creative and coordinated structural solutions to meet the needs of her diverse clients and project teams.

Rachel E. Shanley, P.E.
Rachel is a Senior Project Manager in the Waltham, MA office of SGH. She is a member of SGH’s Structural Design practice and is a liaison for our multidisciplinary structures-enclosure teams that tackle integrated repairs and rehabilitation of historic buildings. She works on projects involving new structural design, building renovations, condition assessments, historic preservation, and investigation of existing buildings. Her experience includes all phases of structural design and construction administration.

Christopher J. Brandmeier, P.E.
Christopher J. Brandmeier is a Senior Consulting Engineer in the Washington, DC office of SGH. He provides both structural engineering and building enclosure consulting services for a range of domestic and international projects. As a member of the Building Technology division at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), his focus is the design and investigation of glazed enclosure systems. Christopher has broad experience in both new and rehabilitation design with various roofing and below-grade waterproofing systems.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify challenges associated with new Energy Code requirements when engaging in an adaptive reuse project.
• Recognize the importance of considering construction means and methods during the design process to provide constructable details and stay on schedule and budget.
• Evaluate factors affecting building enclosure performance when changing interior use and/or surrounding regional climate.
• Specify robust quality control mockups for unique use of conventional materials.

Join the AIA|DC Board of Directors for an engaging, town hall–style conversation exploring the state of the profession amid today’s economic, political, and social challenges.

Former AIA|DC Board President and AIA President-Elect Yiselle Santos Rivera will moderate this dynamic discussion, which will provide insight into current economic trends, challenges, and forecasts impacting the architecture profession and offer perspective on the legislative landscape—highlighting how current federal and local policies are shaping practice, identifying challenges and opportunities ahead. Learn how architects can stay informed and effectively advocate for the values central to our work.

At a time when much of what we stand for—sustainability, design equity and justice, accessibility, preservation, and professional involvement—faces increasing pressure, this session aims to empower members to engage meaningfully and champion AIA’s mission.

Presented by:'

Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA President-Elect 2026
Michele Russo, Vice President, Research and Practice at The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Alexander Cochran, Chief Government Affairs Officer at The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Erin Waldron, Senior Director, Federal Affairs at The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Learning Objectives:

• Identify current economic trends and forecasts influencing architectural practice, and evaluate how these factors affect firm strategy, project delivery, and client engagement.
• Analyze recent and emerging legislative and regulatory actions impacting the built environment, including those related to sustainability, housing, accessibility, and design equity.
• Describe effective methods and opportunities for architects to advocate for the profession at local and national levels in alignment with AIA’s mission and priorities.
• Recognize the architect’s role as a civic and community leader, and apply strategies for staying informed and engaged in shaping policy discussions that influence design and the public good.

While commissioning of many building systems has been around for many years, Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) is relatively newer and less understood to the design and construction industries. This presentation will provide a primer on the practice of BECx and its benefits with real world case studies and then dive further into the various approaches as defined by industry standards and code. Attendees will be able to describe the process of BECx with an understanding of the potential value the process may bring to a project and identify the various codes and standards bodies that have incorporated BECx into them. This course will also describe the various stages of BECx and the deliverables typically produced and provide a better understanding of the general function and performance requirements of the building enclosure.

Presented by:
Matt Hogan, AIA, CPHC, BECXP

Matt has 15 years of industry experience as an architect and consultant. Currently, Matt performs building envelope consulting and testing, condition assessments, forensic investigations and mentors building-envelope team members. Matt is a registered architect (RA) in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a Certified Passive House Consultant and a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to describe the process of BECx with an understanding of the potential value the process may bring to a project.
• Attendees will be able to Identify the various codes and standards bodies that have incorporated BECx into them.
• Attendees will gain an understanding of the general function and performance requirements of the building enclosure.
• Attendees will be able to describe the various stages of BECx and the deliverables typically produced.
   

Location:
HDR - Arlington
3001 Washington Blvd
Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22201-2117
Text or call 202-844-9461 for entry

Guest Speaker:

Susana Andrade Erpestad
Global Director of Federal Architecture and Senior Vice President, HDR
As an architect and business leader, Susana Andrade Erpestad, MBA, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP BD+C, EDAC serves as HDR’s Global Director of Federal Architecture and Senior Vice President. She has been influential in evolving HDR’s global architecture practice, from her design work on life-changing healthcare projects to her strategic efforts in growing the firm’s Federal Architecture practice. Based in HDR’s Arlington, VA office, Susana is responsible for the revenue capture and the delivery of services in this market while shaping and enabling teams, accounting for hundreds of professionals who provide innovative, environmentally responsible, sustainable, and equitable design solutions to dozens of US and foreign government agencies. Over her 20-year career, Susana has demonstrated her deep understanding of both the design and business aspects of architecture. Her ability to seamlessly integrate creativity, technical knowledge, and strategic thinking have contributed to making her a highly effective and successful female leader in the industry. Since joining HDR in 2010, she has grown with the company and has excelled at building and leading teams, fostering client engagement, delivering complex projects, mentoring staff, and increasing market share. Her strategic thinking and analytical skills are also key drivers of her success.

HDR's Susana Andrade Erpestad is 2023 Women Who Mean Business - Washington Business Journal 

 

Based on the book, The Three Little Pigs an Architectural Tale, families will plan and construct the three little pigs’ houses. Using engineering principles, they will try to “save the pigs” from the wolf. 

Join us on Wednesday, January 7 to hear NORD Architects’ partner Mia Baarup Tofte share learnings from leading the Housing Lab and the company’s years of experience with residential architecture as an important social component that helps us create welfare. Climate change, resource scarcity, new family patterns, demographic changes, loneliness on the rise, shrinking rural communities, big cities that can’t keep up with the influx of newcomers. These are some of the greatest challenges residential architecture is facing today.

This online video lecture is presented in conjunction with our exhibition Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab.

Join us on Wednesday, December 10 to hear architect Michael Asgaard Andersen speak on his studies on cohousing models in Denmark. The interest in community, sharing, and climate-conscious living is more widespread than ever. Since the first cohousing communities were established in Denmark in the 1970s, this form of housing has become widespread and recognized in Denmark and internationally – not least for its ability to provide a framework for sustainable living. The lecture will discuss how cohousing is considered a way of living that fulfills our individual needs and contributes to addressing societal and global challenges. It will take a historic trajectory leading up to the current housing experiments shown in the exhibition.

This online video lecture is presented in conjunction with our exhibition Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab.

Forge your future connections and join us for an evening dedicated to expanding your professional network beyond the Revit model!

Are you an architect, designer, engineer, planner, developer, or industry affiliate looking to build meaningful connections in the DC metro area? This exclusive networking event is your opportunity to meet and mingle with a diverse group of professionals essential to the design and construction ecosystem.

• Interdisciplinary Networking: Connect with architects and professionals from allied fields, including real estate development, engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, and construction management.
• Inspiring Venue: Hosted at the Washington, DC office of Ayers Saint Gross, a nationally recognized design firm known for its commitment to planning and architecture.
• Career and Collaboration Opportunities: Discuss current projects, share insights, and discover potential partnerships in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
  
  Refreshments: Enjoy complimentary drinks and light appetizers while you network.

Participate in a 2-day workshop to build a sustainable community for the next 100 years!  Collaborate with architects and engineers, sharpen your problem-solving skills, and tackle this design challenge

Who: Open to 40 high school students

When: April 17 & 18, 2026, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM (must attend for both days) 

Where: The District Architecture Center

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with professionals and gain insights into the world of architecture and design. Free to sign up. Register now! 

Sponsored by:

AIA National

Please join us for this talk in conjunction with our exhibition Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab, presented by Mark McInturff, FAIA.

This talk will explore the concept of alternative housing design concepts in the United States, and will address issues such as climate adaptation, shifting family patterns, urban density, and community resilience through design. 

Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab showcases six groundbreaking projects by Danish architecture firms that explore ways in which housing can respond to some of the greatest challenges of our time. Housing across the world today is affected by climate change, resource scarcity, new family patterns, rise of loneliness, and shrinking rural communities. Big cities are struggling to keep up with the influx of newcomers.

The models presented in this exhibition are real-life housing projects across urban and rural Denmark that experiment with new blueprints to build for modern life. The Housing Lab was first exhibited in Copenhagen in 2023 as part of the UIA World Congress of Architects. A Pacific Northwest tour in the United States was presented by Scan Design Foundation, in partnership with the Danish Embassy in Washington DC, from November 2024 to May 2025. Scan Design Foundation’s mission is to support the cross-cultural exchange between Denmark and the U.S.

About the Speaker:

Mark McInturff, FAIA, McInturff Architects- Mark McInturff founded McInturff Architects in 1986. The five-person Bethesda based studio is dedicated to the making of modern, highly crafted residential, commercial, and small institutional projects. The size, intentionally kept small, allows for close interaction within the studio and with clients and builders.

While all the work can be characterized as modern, there is no single style. Instead, the aesthetic of each project is tailored to its specific program, location, and client.

The firm has received more than 400 design awards, and has been frequently published locally, nationally, and internationally. The fourth monograph, HomeWork: McInturff Architects, was published in 2023 by the Images Publishing Group.