Walking tour led by Congressional Cemetery docent. The tour will cover stone types, memorial, symbols, cenotaphs, and the overall history and significance of the Congressional Site in the context of Washington DC. Following the tour, participants will take part in a sketching exercise led by the HRC members and discuss their findings.

Presented by: 

Robert S. Pohl

Robert S. Pohl has been a licensed D.C. tour guide since 2009 and writes a regular column for the blog The Hill is Home. When he isn't touring or writing, he volunteers at the Southeast Library. Pohl is the author of A House on the Hill: The History of 219 11th St SE; Abraham Lincoln and the End of Slavery in the District of Columbia; Wicked Capitol Hill: An Unruly History of Behaving Badly; and Urban Legends of Historic Lore of Washington D.C.

Learning Objectives: 

• Identify and describe stone types, memorial forms, and symbolic elements found in the Congressional Cemetery.
• Explain the historical and cultural significance of the Congressional Cemetery within the context of Washington, DC.
• Apply sketching techniques to observe and record architectural and symbolic details on site.
• Discuss and interpret sketches as a way to analyze and share perspectives on the cemetery’s significance.

The Fellows Public Program Committee and the Emerging Architects Committee welcome Fellows, Emerging Architects and the AIA/DC community to gather for drinks and snacks at the rooftop terrace at Perkins & Will's West End offices. Great opportunity to meet other architects in different phases of their careers and enjoy drinks and snacks.

Preconstruction is one of the most critical phases of project delivery, where design intent, budget alignment, constructability, and scheduling converge to set the tone for a successful project. This seminar will explore how a collaborative preconstruction process enhances decision-making, reduces risk, and ultimately safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants and users. Through real-world examples and best practices, participants will learn how early integration of architects, owners, and contractors leads to smarter design solutions, cost certainty, and improved long-term performance of the built environment. Please join experts Cary Brown and Andy Craighill as they cover the essential considerations for project success from the General Contractor's perspective.

Presented by: 

Cary Brown, LEED AP
Vice President – Preconstruction
Cary joined E.E. Reed East Coast in 2021 as Vice President of Preconstruction, bringing with her a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. Establishing her department, she has set the standards and processes that facilitate over $1 billion of revenue annually. In this role, she manages procurement, subcontractor qualification, constructability, conceptual budgeting, hard bids, scheduling, value engineering, and all aspects of preconstruction across mission critical, base building, critical facilities, and corporate interiors. Her emphasis on early collaboration across project teams from owner to end user sets the foundation for project success and long-term client satisfaction. Understanding her clientele and their unique goals in the built environment is central to her approach and reflects her comprehensive knowledge as a leader in her field.
Cary is affiliated with Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC Virginia), 7×24 Exchange National Capital Region, and Women in Mission Critical (WiMCO). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Virginia Tech and a Master’s in Real Estate from Georgetown University. She lives in Nokesville, Virginia, with her husband Rob and three children and when not working, she enjoys watching her kids play sports, traveling, and a good glass of wine.

Andy Craighill, LEED AP, CDCM
Vice President
Andy joined E.E. Reed East Coast in 2006 and currently serves as Vice President of Corporate Interiors. He brings over 22 years of industry experience to this role. Starting his career as an assistant project manager at E. E. Reed East Coast, he gained experience in client relations, estimating, project document control, subcontractor procurement and cost management. As a project manager, he delivered a diverse mix of projects across market segments and including both base building and interiors. In his current role as Vice President, he is active in business development and oversees client relations in addition to facilitating preconstruction for our clients. He provides leadership and management for both our Corporate Interiors project teams as well as Special Projects that cross the Base Building and Interiors divisions.
He is affiliated with Association of Builders and Contractors and NAIOP. Andy has won three NAIOP awards and led project teams that received five awards of excellence from Fairfax County. He holds professional accreditations including LEED AP and Certified Data Center Manager (CDCM).
Andy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Union College in New York. He lives in South Riding, Virginia, with his wife Marta and three sons: Matthew, Jacob, and Alex. Outside of the office, he enjoys many outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, golf, and playing hockey with his friends and family.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how early cost modeling and budgeting during preconstruction contribute to design decisions that ensure buildings remain safe, functional, and within the client’s means.
• Identify how constructability reviews and material analysis in preconstruction improve building performance, safety, and long-term durability.
• Describe how preconstruction scheduling and phasing strategies enhance site safety, reduce risks to occupants and workers, and support compliance with life-safety codes.
• Evaluate how collaborative preconstruction practices among owners, architects, and contractors promote more resilient spaces.
   

This program provides an overview of various types of access control applications for door openings including, mechanical key, keypads, offline battery powered, electronic cylinders and keys, hard-wired electrified, WiFi, wireless, and power over Ethernet product solutions.

Learn the advantages and disadvantages of each application with an emphasis on the differences in performance, cost, and efficiency of the entire opening. This presentation will help identify the best door hardware access control solution based on existing or new conditions, necessary security and monitoring requirements, & overall door functionality without sacrificing aesthetics.

ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions® is a group of consultative door opening experts who provide value by assisting with any questions, issues, or projects relating to doors, frames, or door hardware.

Presented by: 

Jason Adkins
Integrated Solutions Specialist with ASSA ABLOY, the global leader in door openings solutions.

Learning Objectives: 

• Review continuum of mechanical, stand-alone, networked, and intelligent electronic access control products.
• Examine the advantages and disadvantages of intelligent EAC products and their appropriate application.
• Learn the correct questions to ask and language to use when writing electronic access control products into specifications.
• Understand how converged technologies are driving the development of sophisticated electronic access control solutions.
   

The masonry coatings roundtable presentation consists of a series of masonry coatings case studies including application challenges and lessons learned. Presenters will discuss topics including design and specification development, product application methodology, appropriateness and the practical lessons learned in delivering durable, long-term solutions.

The durability of specialized coating systems is dependent upon application methods and applicator qualifications. Strict security and zero leakage tolerance demanded careful attention to specification requirements and installation methods for a vertical PMMA application on a bulk oxygen tank addition. In contrast, the application of a cementitious coating system on a highly visible concrete deck emphasized aesthetics, while implying the requirement of high-performance design and durability.

The design and application of masonry coatings for historic applications begs the question of appropriateness. Evaluation of the risks and benefits of coating character-defining features of historic resources is critical in the development of prospective treatment options for deteriorating masonry. Aesthetic project requirements related to coating stone require research and can lead to extensive on-site mockups and field testing to inform the most appropriate treatment protocol for aging historic masonry.

Coating selection plays a pivotal role in achieving project goals, balancing aesthetics and functional performance. Winner of the ICRI Project of the Year Award in 2014 and then the Longevity Award in 2024, this showcase building’s exterior and interior masonry coating applications contributed to the revitalization of both an abandoned concrete and masonry building as well as a community. 

Learning Objectives

1. Learn how the use of protective coatings can extend the useful life of masonry structures as part of a complete repair and protection strategy.
2. There are many factors that impact coatings selection. Learn how substrate composition, exposure, application methods, and durability requirements guide the decision-making process.
3. Surface preparation requirements vary based upon the application. Learn about the importance of substrate preparation and how the durability of a coating is dependent upon application to a suitable substrate. 

4. While many coatings may be removed once applied, others permanently alter the chemical composition of a substrate. This consideration is critical when evaluating potential coating applications where historic resources are concerned. Learn to evaluate risks and benefits of coating masonry, including long-term maintenance requirements and the effort required to remove coatings in the future. The presented case studies offer insight into the evaluation process and material considerations that guide the use of coatings in historic masonry restoration.

    

Schedule:

Please arrive between 5:45pm-6pm as the event will start promptly at 6pm.

6-7pm: Roundtable Presentation and Discussion

7-8pm: Networking Hour

Presented by: 

Alex Gugliotta is a Washington, DC–based entrepreneur in the building materials industry and co-leads Architectural Sales Group LLC, representing manufacturers of waterproofing, masonry, and expansion joint systems across the Mid-Atlantic. He brings a hands-on approach that blends field experience with technical product expertise, with project work spanning major infrastructure and restoration efforts including NIH Building 10, the Lincoln Memorial museum renovations, Atlantic Park’s wave pool in Virginia Beach, the National Harbor exterior wall repair, and high-profile developments such as the Balfour Palisades in Georgetown and the UVA Amphitheater. Active in IIBEC and ICRI, he is committed to connecting product innovation with design practice and advancing technical education in the AEC community.
 

Elizabeth A. Hnatiw has an educational background that combines a laboratory analysis of the properties and behavior of materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics, with historic preservation standards and appropriate repair methods. Elizabeth is a Senior Architect with the Virginia office of Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, where she applies this detail-based scientific and practical training to the forensic investigation, diagnosis, and resolution of building distress. Her enclosure expertise has resolved the effects of aging and exposure for historic and landmark structures such as Clothier Hall Bell Tower at Swarthmore University, Packer Memorial Church and University Center Tower at Lehigh University, Isaac Hawins Hall at Georgetown University, and the World Trade Center in Baltimore. Elizabeth is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Association for Preservation Technology (APTDC), and the Building Enclosure Council (BEC|DC).
 

Randall Kratz is a graduate of Drexel University in Commerce & Engineering and has dedicated his professional efforts towards concrete repair, protection, waterproofing, and strengthening with Sika Corporation for 34 years. He enjoys problem-solving to find the optimal solution for clients. Randall has also been a long-time member of the International Concrete Repair Institute and a recipient of their Project of the Year Award and their Longevity Award.

Maestrxs de Arquitectura is a unique lecture series created to recognize renowned Latin American architects for their professional accomplishments and personal journeys in the US and around the world.
Join us for an enriching evening with Jaime Correa, one of the most influential Latin American architects, urbanists, and educators.Come early to enjoy light food and refreshments accompanied by Latin hits!

Correa will share insights and experiences from his distinguished career, spanning groundbreaking work in New Urbanism, sustainable development, and innovative urban design. He will highlight key projects and unbuilt explorations that define his philosophy—where architecture, art, philosophy, and culture intersect to address the complexities of contemporary cities. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs that have shaped his path, offering a unique perspective on the evolving practice of architecture and urbanism in today’s world.

Additionally, Correa will delve into his approach to teaching and mentoring, drawing from decades as a professor and program director at the University of Miami. He will explore the methods and principles he employs to inspire the next generation of architects and urban designers—emphasizing creativity, critical thinking, and the role of education in shaping resilient, human-centered communities. Don’t miss this chance to gain insights from one of contemporary architecture and urban design’s leading voices.

Please arrive early. Due to venue capacity, registration does not guarantee entry.

Presented by:

Jaime Correa is the Director of the Undergraduate Program, an Associate Professor in Practice, and the former Director of the Master of Urban Design (aka: Suburb and Town Design) at the School of Architecture of the University of Miami (position held from 1996 to 2014) where he was also the Knight Professor in Community Building. He currently teaches design, theory/history, housing, and representation in the Miami and Rome programs of the University of Miami. In 2018, he was a Visiting Professor at Zhuhai College of Jilin University, in China. His paper practice of un-built projects (Jaime Correa and Associates) explores the intersection between architecture, art, philosophy, culture, and urbanism. He is one among the 14 architects and town planners that launched the American New Urbanism movement, one of its most important promoters in Latin America and Europe, and one of its most significant critics. From 2013-2017 he served as a Climate Reality Mentor under the tutelage of former Vice-President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore. He is the author of “Unbuilt Intentions: towards a new phenomenology of cities and architecture”, “Redacted Distillations: Le Corbusier’s transformative erasures”, “Seven Recipes for the New Urbanism”, “Self-sufficient Urbanism”, “Tales of the Departed” and “New Harmony: a counterproposal to Charles Fourier’s Phalanstery”, approximately 17 book chapters, and many articles and papers in peer-reviewed academic journals, newspapers, and magazines. He resides in the City of Miami with his wife and family.

Agenda:

6:00-6:30pm - Registration/Networking

6:30-6:45pm - Opening Remarks

6:45-7:45pm - Lecture

7:45-8:00pm - Q&A

Learning Objectives: 

• Analyze the morphological and typological processes in Jaime Correas’ projects to master urban mapping, diagramming, and form-generation techniques for both academic study and professional practice.
• Explore Jaime Correa’s approach to integrating environmental simulation, generative modeling, and other design methods to enhance virtual prototyping skills.
• Apply Correa’s research-driven and community-engaged design methods—drawn from built and unbuilt projects—to integrate sustainability, cultural context, and social equity into studio assignments and real-world proposals.
• Contrast vernacular architecture and informal settlements with Correa’s heritage conservation and inclusive design strategies to develop intervention frameworks that enhance resilience and user experience in academic and professional projects. 

Sponsored by: 

JAP Construction 

The Office of Planning has recently proposed the most sweeping changes to the D.C. Zoning Regulations since the 2016 re-write. Proposed amendments include (i) the long-overdue changes to the RA-1 zone; (ii) also long-overdue changes to Alley Lot subdivision and development; (ii) a change in the cumbersome 10-foot rule - to be increased to 16 feet!; and (iv) a 94-page Omnibus Amendment that proposes significant modifications and clarifications to 24 different areas of the Regulations.

Marty Sullivan, a zoning attorney with 25+ years experience in DC zoning, will summarize and explain the proposed changes, and will also provide instruction on how best to participate in the public process to provide the Zoning Commission valuable feedback from the AIA and from individual architects.

Presented by: 

Marty Sullivan

Marty Sullivan heads the Zoning and Land Use practice at Sullivan & Barros, LLP. Marty’s practice is focused exclusively on District of Columbia zoning, land use, and related regulatory matters related to the development and use of property. He represents developers, institutions, homeowners, and other property owners in the District. He assists these clients in enhancing or protecting their real property interests. Marty has handled hundreds of cases before the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), securing special exceptions and variances, and prosecuting and defending appeals of Zoning Administrator decisions. Marty has also represented clients in appeals from BZA and Zoning Commission decisions before the D.C. Court of Appeals.Marty assists clients with entitlement issues before DCRA and other District agencies. He works closely with architects, contractors, engineers, and others in pursuing BZA approvals.
Marty also advises clients generally on zoning and entitlement matters, preparing zoning analyses and opinions, and working closely with clients to create innovative solutions to maximize a client’s return on, and enjoyment of, their properties. Marty began his legal career in 1998 with the esteemed D.C. zoning practice at the law firm of Wilkes Artis, and from there he followed a core group of zoning attorneys to Shaw Pittman in 2000 (a group that now practices at Goulston Storrs). Marty, and Tony Barros, founded Sullivan & Barros, LLP in 2009. Since then, Marty has handled several hundred BZA cases, and several thousand non-BZA zoning matters.

Learning Objectives:

• After attending this program, participants will be able to describe the proposed changes in the zoning regulations to their clients, staff, and others.
• After attending this program, participants will have the means with which to explore and investigate the impact of these proposed changes, and how they may benefit their practice and their current and future projects.
• After attending this program, participants will be able to identify potential problems and/or helpful suggestions for improvements to the proposed revisions to the zoning regulations; and advocate before the Zoning Commission.
• After attending this program, participants will be able to identify opportunities and red flags in regard to the zoning requirements for a given project.

Step into the role of an architect and design a home for a prospective client!  This digital modeling course introduces students to 3D modeling for architectural, interior design and landscape architecture. Students will repurpose and reimagine old buildings for new purposes. Students will have a portfolio suitable for college admissions at the end of this course.  All levels of experience are welcomed.

Virtual classes for Fall 2025

Saturdays, 10:00 am - 11:30 am

• October 11
• October 18
• October 25
• November 1

• November 8

  (note: there is no class on November 15)

• November 22 

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 Capital Area Food Bank, DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, Giant, National Building Museum, and Washington Architectural Foundation.
 

Since its inception in 1997, the National Building Museum’s Spotlight on Design has presented the work of luminaries in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and design. This lecture series presents a unique window into the creative journey and cultural influences of visionary practitioners, illuminating the powerful role of design in shaping the built environment.

Schedule

Nader Tehrani
September 17, 2025 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm

MVVA
October 7, 2025 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Deborah Berke
February 4, 2026 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Howeler + Yoon
March 5, 2026 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm