Please join the COTEdc committee for our April committee meeting.  This month’s committee meeting will be hosted by ZGF and will share event updates for our May event which is coupled with DC Climate Week, as well upcoming building tours during the summer.  In addition, Arathi Gowda, Principal with ZGF and recent AIA Fellow (!!), will be our April “Friend of the Committee”.  Arathi will share her experience serving on the COTE National committee.  

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Patrick and Miranda at the following emails so we can plan the head count: patrick.keeney@wsp.com and m.ford@perkinseastman-dc.com

When: Thursday, April 17^th 5:30-6:30pm.  Please be sure to arrive promptly by 5:30pm to allow the meeting to progress on time. 

Where: ZGF Architects – 600 14^th St NW #800, Washington, DC 20005

Join Architects and Sustainability Specialists from Perkins Eastman for a tour of DC Public Schools' Bard High School Early College! Opened in 2022, the school is DC's first adaptive reuse, net-zero energy ready modernization. Located at the current site of the former Malcolm X Elementary School, the full modernization of the Bard High School Early College was completed in two phases, which included renovating a portion of the existing facility, as well as constructing a new addition. The goal for this modernization was to provide a cutting-edge facility that promotes the intellectual challenges of a college education and facilitates academic excellence.

Inspired by the idea of creating a diverse “learning landscape,” the design of the new Bard High School is comprised of an array of innovative indoor and outdoor places that afford a wide range of educational activities and that connect literally and metaphorically to Bard’s mission and vision. To achieve this, our team developed organizational and design principles drawn from extensive interaction and conversations with faculty and administrators. These principles created a vision for a campus that will inspire Bard students to succeed in the 21st Century.

Registration for this event is external and is being hosted by DC Climate week. ​By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with the organizers of DC Climate Week.

Are you wondering how changes at the federal level will affect the environmental endeavors of the design and construction industry? The built environment is responsible for as much as 40% of annual global carbon emissions and has direct impacts on our natural environments, community wellness, and human health. Over the past few decades, both public and private efforts have aimed to reduce this impact. AIA|DC’s Committee on the Environment invites you to attend this panel discussion bringing together experts with experience in private architecture and engineering firms, academia, legislative advocacy, and local DC and federal government programs. Conversation will focus on how we can continue making positive change, including adapting strategies and messaging apart from political affiliations, collaborating on shared efforts, and discussing how others beyond the federal level can carry on the mission for climate action.

We are excited to present this event in coordination with DC Climate Week!

Presented by: 

Susan Piedmont-Palladino, Architect and Director of the WAAC

Linda Toth, Arup and on DC GBAC

Ben Evans, USGBC Federal Legislative Director

Brendan Owens, Former Chief Sustainability Officer at DoD

Michele Mihelic, AIA National, Sr. Director, Codes & Standards, Advocacy & Policy

Learning Objectives:

• Understand why architects are important to the mission for a sustainable and equitable future, and how we can drive climate action impacts/change.
• Discuss how to adapt our communication so that design impacts and value are recognized by all stakeholders.
• Examine how sustainability, resiliency, and climate change mitigation impact security and economic measures, such as emergency utility and shelter disruption, workforce instability, insurance risks, tax impacts, and short vs long term costs.
• Discuss ways the building industry can work together, including on state and local policy measures, grass roots advocacy, codes & standards, and taking advantage of the global reach of private American industry.

Registration Deadline: Midnight July 7th, 2025. 

Canstruction 2025 will take place at the National Building Museum Sunday, November 23rd, 2025 to Monday, December 1st, 2025.

About Canstruction: 

Canstruction is a nationwide program that aims to raise awareness about hunger. In DC, Canstruction is organized by the Washington Architectural Foundation as a creative design-build competition that benefits the Capital Area Food Bank through donations of canned goods. Teams from architecture and design firms from Washington, DC use their skills to build sculptures out of cans of food which are displayed for a week in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. The nutritious shelf-stable food is donated to the CAFB for distribution to those in need after the event.

This program is generously sponsored by BluEdge, Capital Area Food Bank, DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, Giant, National Building Museum, TW Perry, and Washington Architectural Foundation.
 

Join representatives from the Washington Architectural Foundation and Capital Area Food Bank as we discuss Canstruction 2025!

Canstruction is a nationwide program that aims to raise awareness about hunger. In DC, Canstruction is organized by the Washington Architectural Foundation as a creative design-build competition that benefits the Capital Area Food Bank through donations of canned goods. Teams from architecture and design firms from Washington, DC use their skills to build sculptures out of cans of food which are displayed for a week in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. The nutritious shelf-stable food is donated to the CAFB for distribution to those in need after the event.

This program is generously sponsored by BluEdge, Capital Area Food Bank, DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, Giant, National Building Museum, TW Perry, and Washington Architectural Foundation.

Come join us to celebrate the opening of our latest exhibition, My Ly Design: The Architecture of Art, and the end of Architecture Month 2025!

This exhibition explores the transformative power of placemaking art, inviting viewers to engage with the spaces that shape our communities. With a deep-rooted passion for urbanism and sustainable environments, My Ly approaches each project as an opportunity to create unique and meaningful connections through design. This exhibition showcases her ability to craft spaces that not only serve a function but also foster a sense of vitality, belonging and identity.

Drawing from her extensive background in architecture, urban design, and art, My's work blends creative vision a strong focus on community engagement. Her projects, both large and small, emphasize the importance of collaboration and inclusive design in shaping vibrant public and private spaces. As an award-winning designer, My's work in placemaking has been recognized for its ability to transform environments into active, living art.

Through this exhibition, My Ly Design invites viewers to reflect on public space and how creative design can impact social dynamics and cultural identity in the built environment.

Drinks and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

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. 

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.

HSW Justification:

The project faced challenges associated with new Energy Code requirements that impacted interior space and building enclosure performance. Occupant experience and safety was a large part of the overall project goals.

How can architecture lead the way to foster a more resilient city—and planet—during uncertain environmental and socioeconomic times?

As the world confronts the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and societal upheaval, DC’s architecture and design practitioners continue to evolve. DesignDC will showcase innovative solutions to shape the built environment in a way that is sustainable and forward-thinking. 

During this conference, design professionals across the industry will explore new approaches and existing best practices that highlight responsive design strategies and the integration of green technologies into architecture.

Sessions and tours will address:

• Tips and tricks to start building a resilience practice
• Resilient design and adaptability in a volatile environmental and socioeconomic climate
• Sustainable materials and energy-efficient design

Agenda: 

September 30, 5:00-8:00pm:  Opening Keynote and Reception
October 1, 8:00am – 4:00pm: All-day Education Sessions
October 2, 10:00am – 12:00pm:  Closing Keynote
October 2, 2:00 - 4:00pm:  Offsite Tours
 

Keynote and educational sessions will take place at the District Architecture Center, 421 7th St NW.

Sponsors:

Sponsor DesignDC here! 

Join us for an inspiring evening at this year’s Lautman Lecture, featuring Elizabeth Leber, AIA, LEED AP, Managing Partner of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners.

Great design doesn’t just shape buildings—it transforms communities and lives. In this thought-provoking talk, Elizabeth will explore how architecture and leadership intersect to create spaces that honor the past while embracing the future. She’ll share real-world insights into revitalizing historic places, making cities more livable, and leading teams with vision and purpose.

Beyond architecture, this lecture will offer valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and making bold career choices—insights that resonate across industries. Whether you’re passionate about design, history, urban development, or simply curious about how great spaces come to life, this event promises to be an engaging and eye-opening experience.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on how the built environment shapes our world and how strong leadership drives meaningful change.

The Robert and Kay Lautman Lecture is a new annual program to honor two strong proponents of the Washington Architectural Foundation’s work. This program brings nationally and internationally renowned figures in the fields of architecture and art to lecture on the intersection between architecture, design, and art. The annual event will be recorded and made available to a wider audience online. We believe this special annual lecture will have the added benefit of highlighting WAF’s work in the community.

Robert Lautman was a renowned architectural photographer who served on WAF’s board. His wife Kay was well known in DC’s philanthropic community.

2025 Speaker:

Elizabeth R. Leber, AIA, LEED AP, Managing Partner of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, is dedicated to advancing mission-based institutions through forward-looking architecture and planning projects. Guided by her astute and inquisitive nature, Liz excels at extracting the core objectives of her clients and their stakeholders and translating the collective needs and mission of institutions into creative architectural solutions. Liz’s clients include leading schools such as Harvard University, Columbia University, and Philips Exeter Academy; and not-for-profit institutions including the New York Public Library and the 92nd Street Y.

Liz applies these same skills and energy to her role as Managing Partner of Beyer Blinder Belle. Her position affirms the firm’s successful transition to a third generation of leadership and ensures BBB’s long-term strategic vision and sustainability. Liz has spearheaded initiatives focusing on firm-wide culture including greater transparency, collaboration, and inclusion, and is leading the firm’s four-year strategic planning process. Her role also includes oversight of the firm’s business development strategy, including expansion in targeted sectors and geographic markets that align with the firm’s core expertise.

Liz is a board member of Urban Green Council and Open House New York, and is a member of Harvard’s Design Advisory Council.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Impact of Transformational Design on Institutions: Participants will learn how to approach architectural projects with a focus on rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, ensuring that transformation respects history and addresses future needs. Case studies from major projects will illustrate this balance.
• Explore the Role of Leadership in Shaping Architectural Practice: Attendees will gain insights into how leadership decisions, big and small, at various stages of a career transform an architectural practice by influencing its growth and direction.
• Identify Best Practices for Creating a Sustainable and Thriving Architectural Practice: Attendees will be introduced to principles that help sustain a practice over time, including the value of transparency, collaboration, and succession planning to ensure long-term firm health.
• Examine the Relationship Between Personal Growth and Professional Development in Architecture: Attendees will reflect on how career crossroads—key moments of decision—shape the trajectory of an architect’s work, influencing not only individual projects but also broader design philosophy and leadership style.

Organized by the Washington Architectural Foundation.

The Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|DC) and Washington Architectural Foundation (WAF) are proud to present Awards for Great People. Each year, we celebrate these individuals and their work in making Washington better through their contributions as architects, advocates, educators, clients and partners.

Centennial Medal
Glenn Brown Award
John 'Wieb' Wiebenson Award
Emerging Architects Award
Architectural Educator Award 
Public Service Award 
Partnership for the Planet Award 

Laureates are selected annually by the Awards for Great People Jury, comprised of at least two members of AIA|DC and two members of WAF who shall be appointed by the Presidents of both organizations. The jury may select more than one laureate, or no laureates, per award in a given year and may consider nominations from prior years and nominations of its own.

Eligibility, nomination and submission requirements for each award are further detailed here. There are no fees required for submission. Unless noted otherwise, posthumous awards may not be given.

Nominations for 2025 are due by 5:00 PM on May 9, 2025. Submit completed nominations via email to Mary Fitch at mfitch@aiadc.com.