John Francis Education Campus, a DC Public School, serves 680 students from Pre-K through 8th grade within nearly 140,000 square feet of learning space. The campus includes academic areas, a full auditorium, a high school-sized gymnasium, a two-story library, and a central dining commons. 

The project honors the original 1920s and 1950s architecture while introducing modernized spaces that align with Francis’s educational and cultural goals. Designed as a model for sustainable, high-performance architecture, the campus blends seamlessly with its historic structure, creating a 21st-century environment that inspires students to become environmental stewards. By connecting students with the local community and environment, Francis embodies innovative education and sustainable design at the heart of Washington, DC.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify sustainable design elements utilized in school modernizations that have positive impacts on students' cognitive development.
• Discuss the challenges to introducing 21st century educational spaces into historic, 1920's era school buildings.
• Identify the different uses that urban school sites need to accommodate, and how each of these uses compete for what is often limited space.
• Explore the rich, diversity of spaces supporting contemporary elementary schools in historic settings.

Presented by:

Mary Rankin, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP, Principal & Managing Director, Perkins Eastman DC
Kristina Vidal, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate, Project Architect, Perkins Eastman DC

Join us for an insightful panel discussion that will delve into how professionals can effectively transition their valuable public sector experience to thrive in the private sector. Discussion topics will include the following:
 

• Transferring Skills: Identifying and articulating transferable skills from public to private sector roles.
• Adapting to Change: Strategies for adapting to the cultural and operational differences between sectors.
• Networking: Building and leveraging professional networks to facilitate career transitions.
• Success Stories: Real-life examples of successful transitions and lessons learned.

Our panel, moderated by AIA|DC President Alison Pavilonis, AIA, includes;

Robert Peck, Hon. AIA, former Commissioner of Public Buildings at GSA, now Principal | Co-Leader, Government + Defense Practice Area at Gensler

Stephen Ayers, FAIA, former Architect of the Capitol and now Interim CEO at AIA

Anna Franz, FAIA, former Chief, Space and Facilities at the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and now Chair of the Department of Architecture and Urban Sustainability at UDC and Director of the University's Architecture and Community Planning Program.

During the international Conscious Cities Festival -- where designers, researchers, technologists, decision makers, and local communities converge to explore the intricate relationship between the built environment and human flourishing -- the Conscious Baltimore chapter and the International Arts + Mind Lab are working together to facilitate an enriching and compelling conversation that will aim to answer the question: 

How can we shape the built environment with greater intention and how might that look in Baltimore, Maryland?

On March 21 from 2-3:30pm, we will bring a diverse group of researchers and practitioners together to join this conversation. Experts working nationally will speak alongside local leaders about efforts to consciously shape places that enrich lives and help people flourish. Through this event, we will aim to understand the importance of intentional, meaningful, and conscious design; illustrate how community builders are applying these approaches to their practice; and celebrate the opportunities for cultivating just and welcoming communities with intentional design. Free registration is available here.

Presented by: 

Colin Ellard: Professor of Psychology and Director of the Urban Realities Laboratory, University of Waterloo
Ava Richardson: Director of Sustainability, Baltimore Office of Sustainability
Heidi Thomas: Principal, Creative Director + Worker Owner of EnviroCollab

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This will be a hybrid in-person and virtual event. It is being held in the Creative Arts Center on the 2nd floor of the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Central Branch (400 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201)

Maximizing Envelope Performance with IMP-Integrated Components explores an advanced insulated metal composite panel building envelope system, components that have been engineered to integrate with the system – including windows, daylighting panels, sunshades, accent fins and louvers – and how the IMP system and integrated components combine to create a high-performance building envelope.

A high-performance building envelope should result in better than average:
Thermal efficiency | Moisture control | Occupant health and safety | Durability | Operating cost | Life cycle cost

And achieving a high-performance building envelope should never compromise:
Views to the exterior | Quality daylighting | Appropriate ventilation | Aesthetics | Construction schedule | Budget

Presented by: 

Stacey Crown

Stacey lives in Annapolis, MD and is the Business Development Manager at NIPG for the states of MD, VA, DE and Washington, DC; representing both their Centria and Metl-Span lines,

Stacey has a diverse background in sales. She spent 20 years in the marine, architectural and RV industries as a coatings and chemicals manufacturer and the last 10 years in the technology sector.

Learning Objectives:

• Establish the definition of a high-performance building envelope and explore the most common barriers to its achievement.
• Distinguish advanced insulated composite panel systems through 10 defining characteristics.
• Understand how key envelope components including windows, daylighting panels, sunshades, louvers, and through-tube bypass framing are engineered to integrate with advanced IMP systems to overcome barriers to achieving a high-performance envelope.
• Explore several examples of high-performance building envelope design using integrated components.

Sponsored by: 

Is your teen interested in Architecture? This series of 3 workshops is a great way for teens to learn the basic tools of architecture, such as planning, sketching, design, and model-building.  The classes are meant to be taken together, as they build on each other. The dates of the workshops are May 3, May 17, and May 31. 

Who: Teens in middle and high school 

When:  May 3, May 17, May 31; 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

NOTE: Once you register your child will be registered for all three classes. 

WAF provides scholarships for all its classes.  If you are facing a financial hardship please contact Mary Fitch for a code that will provide a 50% discount. We ask that you only use this option if you are facing financial challenges. If further discounts are required, please contact Mary to discuss. 

Find this event and all other Youth Events on our Youth Programs page. 

DAC is inviting middle and high school students to participate in a collaborative design challenge:  build a model of a greenhouse for a local DC community.  Architects will guide students to collaborate in small groups, where they will be judged in the following categories:  sustainability,  buildability,  affordability, innovation, and best overall solution. This is a great opportunity for participants to work in teams and learn about sustainability, climate change, and farming. All students will receive a mini-greenhouse and certificate to take home. 

In partnership with Lederer Gardens, DC Department of Parks and Recreations

Who: For students in grades 6-12

Sponsored by: 

The food market at International Square in Washington DC, radically reinvents a 1980s atrium lobby into an open-air extension of the street. The market was conceived as a place for all the senses, and by incorporating a natural ventilation strategy it becomes a space for visceral engagement with one’s environment. While adding large doors to connect to the outside was a straightforward detailing challenge, the question was how to do so while creating a comfortable space for as much of the year as possible and within an existing building with a mix of aging systems.

The open-air market concept was conceived prior to the pandemic, and the technical integration was a major client concern. Those concerns diminished upon realizing the practical advantages of increased air changes possible with natural ventilation. It was critical to understand how the open-air would impact the existing atrium smoke exhaust system, and whether the system could be leveraged to facilitate removal of hot air and supplement the vertical stack effect. During the cooler shoulder seasons, the team also sought to modulate openings to extend the operational duration of the natural ventilation modes and allow for additional energy savings.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand energy savings, air quality and experiential improvements that natural ventilation can allow in existing buildings.
• Identify barriers and technical strategies for incorporating natural ventilation into existing buildings, including integration of architectural and ventilation systems and related equipment.
• Determine the times of year and environmental factors where natural ventilation systems can be utilized.
• Understand tools and resources available to allow for a comfortable naturally ventilated environment.

Presented by:

Juan Villafañe, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Partner
Krueck Sexton Partners

What: Join COTE chapters from AIA Northern Virginia, AIA DC, and AIA Potomac Valley for this Tri-COTE event as Melanie De Cola and Eana Bacchiocchi of the American Institute of Architects present the AIA Materials Pledge initiative. De Cola and Bacchiocchi will share the benefits and importance of participating in this pledge and will provide a deeper dive into each of the five pledge statements pertaining to human health, social health, ecosystem health, climate health, and a circular economy. Becoming an AIA Materials Pledge signatory grants access to numerous resources, a starter guide, and a peer-to-peer network. By the end of this presentation, leave with the knowledge and readiness to participate in this pledge and join the almost 300 architecture and design firms that have made this commitment.  
 
The AIA Materials Pledge is a commitment by architects to promote the use of sustainable materials in construction projects, and to holistically consider all aspects of the creation and use of materials. It focuses on encouraging responsible sourcing, reducing environmental impact, and improving the health and well-being of both people and the planet. By signing the pledge, architects are signaling their dedication to responsible material choices that align with broader sustainability goals in the built environment. The initiative is part of a larger movement within architecture to create buildings and spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also socially and environmentally responsible.

When: March 25, 2025 Doors will open at 5:30 pm following the presentation at 6:00 pm. There will be a meet and greet after from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Where: Stantec, 3001 Washington Boulevard Suite 500, Arlington VA 22201-2247

Tour historic 5 Logan Circle, NW, a 5-story circa 1883 brick residence designed by noted architect Emil Frederich for US Trade Diplomat and noted violin collector Dwight Partello. This tour is led by Bill Bonstra, FAIA, LEED AP, and Penny Karas and will explore the distinctive architectural details of this modernized 2-year renovation full of history and contemporary charm.

The unique floor plan with octagonal rooms features a skylit atrium with a connecting glass and steel bridge that allows daylight into the center of the house and showcases the residence’s original preserved cherry millwork, heart pine floors, and a restored three-story hand-carved cherry stair. Meander through the two-story main residence and three accessory dwelling units that provide market-rate housing and short-term lodging to the historic neighborhood. The historic townhome features original violin images and period drawings from notable architects in its stylings, original German leaded glass windows and skylights, 9-foot-tall pocket doors, and 9 original fireplaces. This project is a contributing resource to the Logan Circle Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the history of L’Enfant’s Plan for Washington, DC, Logan Circle, and notable architect Emil Frederich.
• Discover opportunities for implementing accessory dwelling units into single-family and historic residences in the Nation’s Capital.
• Understand the process of applying for and receiving historic tax credits, as well as the challenges of preserving historic buildings.
• Discover unique ways to strengthen historic contexts through modern design with the challenges faced by the design team.

Presented by:

Bill Bonstra, FAIA, LEED AP, Partner, Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS
 

The new Department of Housing and Community Development (DCHD) headquarters stands as a gateway to Anacostia, exemplifying how thoughtful urban design can drive neighborhood revitalization. This public-private partnership balances historic preservation with modern functionality, integrating office space with ground-floor retail to stimulate local economic growth. The building’s dual-frontage design—an articulated brick façade along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and a river-facing side with expansive views—enhances both the neighborhood’s character and the broader cityscape.

Attendees will explore how the project overcame site challenges, including fragmented parcels and lot-line restrictions, through a creative barbell-shaped layout that fosters collaboration and interaction. Sustainability is a key highlight, with the building achieving a 70% reduction in Energy Use Intensity (EUI) through innovative features like a windowless south façade that doubles as a canvas for public art. This tour will provide insights into how urban development can integrate historic context, sustainability, and economic activation to create a lasting community impact.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze how site constraints influence architectural design and urban development strategies.
• Evaluate the role of public-private partnerships in fostering economic revitalization and community engagement.
• Assess how architectural interventions can preserve and enhance historic urban fabric while integrating modern programmatic needs.
• Identify sustainable design strategies that reduce energy consumption and enhance building performance.

Presented by:

Ashton Allan, AIA, LEED AP