The Leicester B. Holland Prize is an annual competition that recognizes the best single-sheet measured drawing of a historic building, structure or site prepared to the standards of the National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP). The sheet may be prepared for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), or Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS). The prize is supported by the Paul Rudolph Trust, the American Institute of Architects, and the Library of Congress's Center for Architecture, Design, and Engineering. The prize honors Leicester B. Holland (1882-1952), FAIA, chairman of the AIA's Committee on Historic Buildings, head of the Fine Arts Division of the Library of Congress, first curator of the HABS collection, co-founder of the HABS program in the 1930s, and the first chair of the HABS Advisory Board.

The prize serves multiple purposes. It is intended to increase awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic sites, structures, and landscapes throughout the United States. Prize entries add to the permanent HABS, HAER, and HALS collection at the Library of Congress. The prize also honors the art of architectural delineation and composition in the tradition established by the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Beaux Arts methodology embraced the study and drawing of historic buildings as a crucial component of architectural education, providing an opportunity for young architects to gain an understanding of the principles of design and construction. Additionally, Beaux Arts Methodology was a means through which architects mined historic buildings for architectural motifs to be used in their restoration and new design projects.

By requiring only a single sheet, the competition challenges the delineator to capture the essence of the site through the presentation of key features that reflect its historic and its architectural, landscape architectural or engineering significance. The Holland Prize competition is open to all those interested, regardless of experience or professional background.

Awards

The winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a certificate of recognition. Preservation Architect, the online newsletter of the American Institute of Architects' Historic Resources Committee, will publish the winning drawing. Merit awards may also be given.

Eligibility

Participants

Anyone is eligible to compete in the Holland Prize competition except current HDP employees.

Project

The site selected for documentation must be appropriate for inclusion in the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection and can include buildings, structures, engineering and industrial sites, and landscapes. The site must either be previously unrecorded by HDP or have undergone substantial changes requiring an addendum to an existing survey.

Instructions

• Follow the HABS, HAER, or HALS guidelines for measured drawings and (if applicable) historical reports.
• Review the rating scale to see how each project is judged.
• Submit the Holland Prize entry form (pdf) by the deadline listed below. For student teams, the faculty sponsor will submit the form. The Holland Prize coordinator will verify the proposed site name and address after receiving the form.
• The prize coordinator will do up to two reviews of the draft documentation. The review deadline is listed below. The prize coordinator will provide the AutoCAD title block after reviewing at least one draft of the drawing. Draft historical reports may also be submitted for review.
• The Holland Prize coordinator will plot the finished sheet. If you want to plot the sheet yourself, or if you want to enter an ink-on-Mylar drawing, check with the coordinator for instructions before beginning your project.

How to approach composing a single-sheet drawing: The sheet should include those elements that best represent and/or convey what is significant about the site or structure from the standpoint of history and design. For HABS, the sheet can encompass numerous elements including, plan(s), elevation(s), section(s), site plan, and details such as typical windows and doors, architectural details and molding profiles, and construction elements. HAER drawings, in addition to the above, may also include process plan(s), and machinery sections and details. HALS drawings may include vegetation and circulation plans, and hardscape elements. A brief statement of significance is required to appear on the sheet in entries without an accompanying short-format historical report.

Submission Checklist

Note: Digital files (pdf, Microsoft Word) can be sent via email or on CD/DVD.

• Drawing:
  • High-quality pdf of the final sheet (24" x 36", ARCH D)
  • (Optional): Physical copy of the full-sized sheet (if agreed upon by the Holland Prize coordinator)
• Field notes: Original field sketches and/or field records for laser scanning & photogrammetry. Fold oversized pages to 8.5" x 11" size. Write the survey number on each page. Do not bind the field notes.
• Field photos (optional but recommended): Printed copies of field photos, to be included in the field records. Include the survey number on every photo/page.
• Historical report: Microsoft Word file (see templates)
• Signed Copyright Release Form (pdf), to confirm that you are donating your work to the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection. If you use a digital signature, send a pdf instead of a paper copy of the form.

Deadlines

• 1 August: Email deadline for submission of entry forms
• 1 September: Final date that HABS/HAER/HALS staff will review draft drawings and historical reports
• 1 August to 1 October: Completed entries accepted (postmark date)
• October: Jury meets
• Winter: Prize winner announced

The National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP), The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) announce the 2025 Charles E. Peterson Prize, which annually recognizes the best set of measured drawings prepared to HDP standards and donated to HDP by students.

The prize honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA, one of the founders of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), and is intended to increase awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic buildings, structures, and cultural landscapes throughout the United States while adding to the permanent HABS/HAER/HALS Collection of measured drawings at the Library of Congress. To date, more than 4,000 students from 75 colleges and universities have participated by completing more than 700 entries and more than 7,200 sheets of measured drawings. The students have worked alone and in groups, in required courses, electives, independent study and summer institutes. They have been, for the most part, architecture and landscape architecture students in addition to architectural history, interior design, and historic preservation majors.

Prizes

All prizes are awarded at the discretion of the jury. Prizes amounts are:

• First place: $10,000 and certificate
• Second place: $5,000 and certificate
• Third place: $3,000 and certificate
• Honorable mention: $1,000 and certificate

See the list of Peterson Prize winners.

Eligibility

Participants

Students of architecture or related fields with faculty sponsorship are eligible to compete for the Peterson Prize. Students may use financial support from a State Historic Preservation Office, foundation, local historical society or other similar source. Students must be enrolled in a degree program while working on their entry. National Park Service employees are not eligible to compete.

Projects

Sites selected for documentation must be appropriate for inclusions in the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection. Drawings must be of a building, structure, or cultural landscape not previously recorded in HABS/HAER/HALS measured drawings, or be of a site that has changed significantly since previous drawings were created. Federal mitigation projects and drawings created as part of an NPS contract are not eligible for the Peterson Prize. Name and location information should be verified with the Peterson Prize Coordinator before being inked or plotted.

Instructions

• Follow the HABS, HAER, or HALS guidelines for measured drawings and (if applicable) historical reports.
• Review the rating scale to see how each project is judged.
• The faculty sponsor must submit the Peterson Prize entry form (pdf) by the deadline listed below. The form must be received two weeks before the submission of the completed drawings. The Peterson Prize coordinator will verify the proposed site name and address after receiving the form.
• Students must create all of the drawings. Color may be used in drawings only with advance approval of the prize coordinator.
• Projects using CAD will be provided with an AutoCAD title block upon receipt of the entry form. Projects utilizing hand drawing should contact the prize coordinator for instructions.
• Students intending to utilize 3-D laser scanning and/or digital photogrammetry as part of their documentation process should contact the Peterson Prize Coordinator for guidance prior to commencement of the project.
• The Peterson Prize coordinator will plot the finished sheet set. If you want to plot the set yourself, or if you want to enter an ink-on-Mylar drawing, check with the coordinator for instructions before beginning your project.

Submission Checklist

• Drawings:
  • Physical copy of the full-sized sheet set
  • CAD (dwg) files of the sheet set with any supporting fonts, referenced (xref) files, and pen table (ctb) files. Each sheet should be set up as an individual CAD file.
  • (Optional): High-quality pdf of the final drawing set
• Field notes: Original field sketches and/or field records for laser scanning & photogrammetry. Fold oversized pages to 8.5" x 11" size. Do not bind the field notes. Label each page with the survey number.
• Field photos (optional but recommended): Printed copies of field photos, to be included in the field records. Include the survey number on every photo/page.
• Historical report: Microsoft Word file (see templates)
• Signed Copyright Release Form (pdf), to confirm donation of the work to the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection. The faculty sponsor may sign the form on behalf of the full team.
• Digital files (CAD, MS Word) can be sent via email, or on a USB drive or CD/DVD

Deadlines

• 1 June 2025 – Postmark deadline for submission of entry forms
• 30 June 2025 – Postmark deadline for submission of completed entries.
• August 2025 – Prize jury convenes and winners announced
• November 2025 – Awards ceremony at the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) Annual Conference
• Winter 2025 – Information about the 2026 competition will be posted

Heritage Documentation Programs, in collaboration with the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE), seeks applications from qualified students and recent graduates for 2025 summer employment.

Architectural Historian Interns

Architectural historian interns will assist in the documentation of historic sites, working closely with Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP) historians to undertake fieldwork and on-site analysis, research, and writing of historical reports to HDP standards. Interns will work with a team of architects or independently. The final documentation will be archived at in the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection at the Library of Congress.

The internships will begin in late May or early June 2025 and last for a period of 12 weeks. During this period, the interns will learn to conduct field analysis, research, and writing historical reports in conformance with HDP guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Architectural and Engineering Documentation. The internship term will be completed as a full-time position (40 hours per week) with work occurring primarily at the HDP office in Washington, DC.

Architect & Landscape Architect Interns

Architect and landscape architect interns will assist in the documentation of several historic sites and may travel to site locations (paid for by HDP) but will work in the HDP offices in Washington, DC. Interns will work closely with HDP historical architects to generate measured drawings from existing 3-D survey data. The final drawings will be archived in the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection at the Library of Congress. Depending on project schedules, opportunities may be available to assist HDP staff in collecting survey data using terrestrial laser scanners, photogrammetry, and hand measuring.

The internships will begin in late May or early June 2025 and last for a period of 12 weeks. During this period, the interns will learn to manipulate 3-D survey data and execute measured drawings in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Architectural and Engineering Documentation. The internship term will be completed as a full-time position (40 hours per week) with work occurring primarily at the HDP office in Washington, DC.

Architect interns who successfully complete their internship may qualify for NCARB IDP credits.

All Interns

Visit PreserveNet's NCPE Internships page for additional details and instructions on how to apply.

To be eligible, applicants must be:

• Between 18 and 30 years old (or 35 if a veteran) when starting the internship.
• A college student enrolled in a degree-seeking program or a recent graduate (within the past 12 months at the time of application). Undergraduate applicants should have completed three years of an accredited program.
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

A background security investigation will be required prior to the start date. All NCPE internships accrue 4 hours of PTO for every 80 hours worked.

Qualified NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Visit the website listed above for details about this benefit. Successful completion of the internship does not guarantee Federal employment.

Positions are open only to United States citizens. Foreign citizens seeking summer employment may wish to look for opportunities via World Heritage USA.

How to Apply

• Deadline: March 3, 2025 (please note: many other NCPE summer internships have a different deadline)
• Submit your application via PreserveNet:
  • Architect/Landscape Architect Intern
  • Architectural Historian Intern
• Note: Applicants who wish to be considered for both Architect/Landscape Architect and Architectural Historian positions must submit two separate and complete applications.

April is Architecture Month!

Architecture Month is an annual series of public programs when tours, lectures, workshops, and parties will take place throughout the entire month of April and will highlight Washington's design culture for architecture enthusiasts of all ages.

Each day during Architecture Month, we will feature one project/building/site at a Building of the Day Tour. During these tours, representatives from the design team will showcase their project for members of the public.

We want to feature your projects, whether completed or under construction, as examples of the vibrant architectural scene in Washington! Please fill out this short form to submit your project to be featured during one of the daily public events that shine a spotlight on DC’s architectural culture.

Proposals are due by 5:00 pm on February 15, 2024. 

Submission Requirements:

• These tours are for the Public. While some technical language is fine, keep in mind that the primary audience for Architecture Month is design enthusiasts rather than professionals. Tours that require technical expertise or do not provide PPE when appropriate will not be considered.
   
• By submitting a tour application, you agree to have a member of your staff onsite during the tour to assist your tour guide and check people in. AIA|DC will provide you with a registration list ahead of time.
   
• Tour leaders are responsible for securing permission and access to the site for attendees. Please confirm availability with the tour site/owners before submitting a proposal. 

You are welcome to submit multiple tours for consideration. Please submit one proposal form for each presentation or tour.

Join us to hear Chapter officers report on 2024. Plus, learn about committee initiatives for the new year and how to get involved. We've had an eventful 2024 and look forward to 2025!

Date and Time: Monday, February 24^th 6:00 to 7:30pm

Location: Ayers Saint Gross – DC Office: 1100 First St NE Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002

Description: This is the annual kick-off meeting for the Urban Design Committee. We will discuss the events planned for the 2025 calendar year, and any potential collaborations with other AIA|DC committees. We will aim to form sub-groups to help plan each event throughout the year.

Virtual Meeting Invite:

David Otieno is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: AIA DC| Urban Design Committee Kick-Off Meeting

Time: Feb 24, 2025 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://tortigallas.zoom.us/j/91234419359?pwd=1VBJp7OxX0Q5bQDqKKPpkA6PxnA1Vr.1

Meeting ID: 912 3441 9359

Passcode: 461365

 Please note, you must register via Cvent. Once your registration is complete you will receive an email with the link to submission materials as well as the link to complete your final submission and make the payment associated with your registration type for your submission.

Context

Like many other cities on the east coast, Washington’s summers are hotter and heat waves last longer than anticipated just a few years ago. While vehicle drivers of all kinds (cars, bikes, scooters and mopeds) can keep cool through air conditioning or at least the movement of air at speed, pedestrians do not share in that advantage. Consequently, walking in areas without shade can be an unwelcome and sometimes dangerously hot enterprise. The danger comes not only from the sun shining down on a particularly hot day, but also the accumulated heat radiating out of the materials of the bridge or plaza over successive days of a heatwave. Often the people most vulnerable to heat-related illness, young children and older people, are the most likely to also be pedestrians. Making this infrastructure safer for them will make it more comfortable for everyone.

How hot is it exactly?

Measurements were taken on August 27, 2024, at 4:45 PM on the Duke Ellington Memorial Bridge.  This was a typical 90+ degree day in DC, the first day in a predicted three-day heat wave. The air temperature was 91 degrees in the area.  On the bridge the air temperature read 94 degrees.  The pavement reading was 111 degrees. In areas of the bridge which have shade from trees in nearby Rock Creek Park the air temperature read 92 degrees, and the pavement was cooler at 89 degrees. 

This shows that shade can really make a difference.

Competition Goal

This competition seeks to provide a well-designed flexible shade system or systems that can be used in areas where other means of shade, such as tree planting, are not possible.  These areas include major bridges that carry both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, pedestrian-only bridges and transit-related open plazas.  The ideal system will be durable and easily maintained. The system(s) must not impede travel or interfere with safety measures, such as suicide barriers, that are already in place.  Consideration must also be given to wildlife that traverse the area.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all, including students and professionals in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and engineering. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams. 

Schedule

Registration Deadline: March 18, 2025. 

Upon registering you will receive a link to all competition materials and a link to the informational webinar

Informational Webinar: March 28, 2025

Submission Deadline:  April 18, 2025

Finalists Exhibition:  May 10 – June 30, 2025, District Architecture Center

Jury Deliberations:  June 1, 2025, Winners will not be notified prior to the Awards announcement below

Awards announced:  Cocktails and Conversation Event-June 2025 – DC Public Library

Submission Requirements

Submissions should include a project description, sketches, renderings, plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, and/or other presentation tools to explain the proposal. Projects are to be uploaded as pdfs not to exceed 6MB. Upload instructions will be forwarded upon registration.

Please mindful that:

• No video files will be accepted.
• All information provided in writing must be in English.
• All submissions must be uploaded via competition link provided at registration

Successful submissions will include:

1.  A presentation board of your project/projects suitable to be printed in portrait orientation in a 24 x 36-inch format for display at the District Architecture Center.  Presentation boards must not identify the individual or team’s identity. Boards of sufficient quality (to be determined by the competition sponsor) will be on public display at the District Architecture Center in Washington DC May 10 – June 30.

2.  A thorough but concise project description that includes

a. Project summary

b. Project Objectives

c. Design Concept

d. Key Features

e. Preferred Materials

3.  Additional Materials in text or graphic form that demonstrate

a. Urban context integration

b. Feasibility

c. Sustainability and construction

Jury composition

The jury shall be composed of at least five individuals representing the fields of design and engineering along with representatives of interested parties such as DDOT and WMATA.  Participation in the jury by these agencies does not indicate endorsement of the concept or any particular entry of this competition. The jury shall be selected and approved by the WAF Board of Directors. The composition of the jury is at WAF’s discretion and shall not be subject to review. The jury shall have the sole authority to determine the selection of the winning entries.

The site

Duke Ellington Bridge
Plans for the bridge will be provided after registration

• Located in Ward 1
• Length: 750 feet
• Width: 30 ft. wide roadway with 12 ft. sidewalks or 54 feet total.  Sidewalks widen at each end and on both sides to 22 feet.
• Roadway includes bike lanes in both directions.
• Include suicide barriers on each side; what ever structure you design must not attach to the suicide barriers.

Important information to consider

• Wind loads of any lightweight structure
• Please refer to the latest revision of AASHTO Bridge Evaluation Manual
• Safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists
• Suicide barriers must be respected

Join Nathan Kipnis, AIA Fellow and sustainability expert, for an in-depth exploration of the 2030 Commitment. Presented by the Small Firms Exchange DC, this session is tailored specifically to show how small firms can easily achieve these sustainability goals.

As the principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning, Nathan brings decades of expertise in environmentally responsible design. His firm was named one of the top 25 environmental architectural firms in the U.S., and his leadership in sustainability initiatives is widely recognized. A founding member of the AIA’s 2030 Commitment Working Group, Nathan will share practical strategies, real-world examples, and insights on how small firms can implement sustainability practices without overwhelming complexity.

The session will also feature a live energy model demo and a Q&A session, allowing attendees to directly engage with Nathan on their own challenges and opportunities in sustainability.

Don't miss this chance to learn from one of the foremost experts in sustainable architecture and design, and gain the tools to future-proof your practice while meeting the 2030 sustainability targets.

Presented by

Nathan Kipnis FAIA LEED AP BD+C
Nathan Kipnis is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning, with offices in Evanston, Illinois, and Boulder, Colorado. His firm has been recognized as one of the top 25 environmental architectural firms in the U.S., and their designs have been widely published both locally and nationally.

A passionate advocate for sustainability, Nathan was a founding member of the AIA's 2030 Commitment Working Group in 2009 and served as its national co-chair from 2018 to 2019. He has also been an active member of the AIA’s Sustainability Leadership Group and the Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence. Currently, he serves on the Executive Committee of the AIA’s Small Firm Exchange, where he focuses on promoting sustainability initiatives to the AIA’s network of small firms.

Nathan holds an Environmental Design degree from the University of Colorado Boulder (1983) and a Master of Architecture with a focus on Energy Conscious Design from Arizona State University. In 1983, he designed his first solar home in Boulder, marking the beginning of his long commitment to sustainable architecture.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the 2030 Challenge, its baselines and metrics, and what design processes are needed to achieve 2030 Challenge targets.
• Demonstrate how small firms can participate in the 2030 Commitment.
• Identify specific characteristics of an energy efficient and integrative design process.
• Explain the importance of energy analysis and assessment throughout the design process.

Sponsored by

Sustainable Building Partners
 

Interested in joining the committee or a meeting, please contact Jim Shepherd, AIA or Rence Gill, AIA to attend.

Interested in joining the committee or a meeting, please contact Jim Shepherd, AIA or Rence Gill, AIA to attend.