Running a small architecture firm requires navigating not only design and construction, but also the legal and operational realities behind the business of practice.

Join the AIA DC Small Firms Exchange (SFX) for a virtual discussion with John P. Williams of Bean, Kinney & Korman, who regularly advises architects, engineers, contractors, and developers on business structure, real estate transactions, and development projects.

This session will focus on the legal considerations that small firms encounter in day-to-day operations, including topics such as firm structure, partnerships, contracts, risk management, and common legal pitfalls.

The discussion will be high-level and informational, with time for questions and conversation among attendees.

Presenter Bio:

John P. Williams

John P. Williams is a business and real estate attorney at Bean, Kinney & Korman who regularly works with architects, engineers, contractors, developers, and business owners on the legal aspects of development projects and firm operations. His practice includes advising clients on partnership agreements, corporate governance, development transactions, and real estate matters.

With experience guiding clients through multiple phases of the development process—from acquisition and design through construction, financing, and sale—John brings a practical legal perspective to the business side of architecture and construction.

Outside of his legal practice, John enjoys coaching little league baseball and youth league basketball and cheering on the Washington Nationals.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common legal and operational risks faced by small architecture firms, including issues related to contracts, partnerships, and business structure.
• Understand how legal considerations influence the day-to-day operations of an architecture practice, including development projects and client relationships.
• Recognize key contractual and governance strategies that can help small firms manage liability and protect their professional service
• Evaluate practical approaches to working with legal counsel when navigating business decisions, development projects, and firm growth.
   

Presented by AIA|DC's Small Firm Exchange (SFx), sponsored by Ames and Gough.
 

Architecture has always been about people, yet the profession has often treated human experience as a byproduct of design rather than its driving force. This session moves beyond the buzzword of neuroarchitecture to explore what it actually means to design with the full complexity of human beings in mind: our neurology, our emotions, our need for belonging, and our capacity for joy.

Drawing on emerging research in neuroscience and evidence-based practice, speakers will examine how leading firms are integrating human-centered frameworks into their design processes, from programming and concept development through occupant experience. The conversation bridges academic research and real-world application, offering practitioners a roadmap for bringing science, strategy, and humanity back to the center of architectural practice.

Structure:

6:00 pm - Welcome
6:30-7:30 pm - Lecture & Q+A
7:30-8 pm - Reception

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key findings from neuroscience and behavioral research that directly inform architectural programming, spatial sequencing, and sensory design decisions that support occupant health, safety, and well-being.
• Analyze how design firms of varying scales are operationalizing human-centered research—from dedicated research branches to consultant-based models—and evaluate how these approaches can be integrated into professional practice to improve health, safety, and welfare outcomes in the built environment.
• Apply evidence-based principles from the WELL Building Standard and related frameworks to connect occupant health outcomes with specific architectural and environmental design strategies that enhance indoor environmental quality and occupant well-being.
• Analyze and apply methods to predict design outcomes early in the design process to inform decisions that enhance health, safety, and welfare (HSW) performance.

Presented by:

Milton Shinberg, AIA - has practiced as an architecture firm principal since 1975, following his graduation from Carnegie Mellon University. From 1995 to 2018, he was a principal of Shinberg Levinas Architects, whose award-winning work—including international projects—has been widely published.

He is the longest-serving faculty member at The Catholic University of America School of Architecture & Planning, where he has taught since 1978 and is an Adjunct Ordinary (full) Professor of Architecture. He received the Architect Educator Award from AIA|DC’s Washington Architectural Foundation in 2021 and Catholic University’s Outstanding Part-Time Educator Award in 2023.

His teaching focuses on the intersection of architecture, neuroscience, and art through his seminar Beauty & Brains. He serves on the Advisory Council of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture and the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins International Arts+Mind Lab.

His book, People-Centered Architecture: Design, Practice, and Education, was published by Wiley in May 2025.

Laura Wake-Ramos, AIA, NCARB, DBIA is a Design Manager with Hensel Phelps in the Mid-Atlantic Region, bringing over ten years of experience across design and construction. She is a licensed architect in the District of Columbia and a certified Design-Build Professional.

Laura currently serves as a 2024–2026 At-Large Representative on the AIA Strategic Council, where she participates in the Neuroarchitecture Study Group, advancing research and dialogue at the intersection of neuroscience and the built environment. She previously served as Chair of the AIA Project Delivery Knowledge Community and continues to contribute to national leadership efforts across the profession. In addition, Laura serves as 2026 Secretary of the DBIA Mid-Atlantic Region and is a member of the DBIA National Project Awards Jury.

An experienced speaker, Laura has presented at numerous AIA and DBIA events on topics including project delivery, high-performing teams, and the role of technology in advancing design and construction. In addition, she is an active mentor with organizations such as DBIA, Arquitina, and the ACE Mentoring Program of America.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts & Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University, as well as a Master’s in Real Estate Development from Georgetown University. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and staying active through yoga, triathlon, hiking, and gardening.

_{Rendering of Malcolm X Elementary School by CGS Architects}

Join the GCS-SIGAL and CGS Architects Design-Build team for an exclusive behind-the-scenes construction site tour of Malcolm X Elementary School in Ward 8. Originally constructed in the 1950s–1960s, the existing 68,000 SF mid-century modern building consists of two wings connected by the main school entrance. As part of this Design-Build project, the team is fully renovating the facility, including demolition of the existing multipurpose space and construction of a new addition on the west side, expanding the building to 84,716 SF. The renovation prioritizes accessible, cutting-edge learning environments that meet ADA standards while integrating the latest educational technology.

The updated school will feature modernized classrooms, collaborative discovery spaces, resource rooms, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria designed for flexible daily use. Outdoor improvements include athletic fields and a traffic garden, creating dynamic opportunities for learning and play beyond the classroom. Public art, including works by local artists, will be incorporated throughout the campus, celebrating the surrounding community and inspiring creativity.

A central goal of the project is achieving Net Zero energy status, reflecting Washington, DC’s commitment to sustainability. This ambitious renovation transforms not only the physical campus but also the educational experience, creating a vibrant environment where students, teachers, and the community can learn, connect, and thrive. Join us to see how thoughtful design, innovation, and sustainability are coming together to shape the future of learning.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the scope and process of a Design-Build renovation for a mid-century modern elementary school, including considerations for building performance, safety, and occupant wellbeing.
• Identify key strategies for creating accessible, ADA-compliant learning environments that support the health, safety, and welfare of students and staff.
• Explore how outdoor spaces and public art can enhance student engagement, support wellbeing, and strengthen community connection within the built environment.
• Recognize sustainable design practices in educational facilities, including strategies for achieving Net Zero energy performance and improving long-term environmental resilience.

Presented by: 

Elizabeth Cossel, WELL AP, Leed Green Associate, ILFA
Project Manager
GCS-SIGAL

Derek Banocy, AIA
Principal
CGS Architects

The roof is often treated as a technical necessity rather than a designed building element. Yet it plays a critical role in performance, resilience, energy efficiency, durability, and architectural expression.

This interdisciplinary panel will explore the roof as the building’s “fifth facade,” examining how low-slope membranes, standing seam metal roofing, vegetative systems, and hybrid assemblies influence the overall building envelope. Panelists including architects, consultants, BES experts, and manufacturers, will discuss the complexities of system selection, wind uplift, thermal movement, moisture control, drainage, code compliance, and long-term maintenance.

Through real-world examples and candid discussion, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how early collaboration and intentional detailing can reduce risk, improve constructability, and enhance building performance. This session will challenge participants to reconsider how the roof is designed, coordinated, and integrated into the architectural vision.

Learning objectives:

• Analyze the roof as a critical component of the building envelope that impacts performance, durability, and architectural expression.
• Compare performance considerations among low-slope, standing seam metal, vegetative, and hybrid roof assemblies.
• Evaluate key technical factors including wind uplift resistance, thermal movement, moisture management, and code compliance.
• Identify interdisciplinary coordination strategies that improve constructability, lifecycle performance, and risk mitigation.

Presented by: David S. Finley, Samuel Roberts, CSI, CDT, and Duncan Munroe

David S. Finley is the Director of Building Envelope Sciences at The Garland Company, Inc. and Design Build Solutions Inc., with over 14 years of experience in building enclosure consulting and forensic investigation. His expertise includes building enclosure assessments, hygrothermal analysis, water intrusion investigations, and building code compliance. David has extensive experience evaluating curtain wall systems, masonry facades, and waterproofing assemblies, and regularly develops system details and specifications to improve building performance. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of Architectural Engineering from Penn State University and is an active member of several ASHRAE technical committees.

Samuel Roberts is the Regional Manager the Garland Company and specializes in building envelope protection, waterproofing, and long-term roof asset management. With over a decade of experience across sectors including education, healthcare, municipal, federal, and industrial facilities, he provides services such as roof condition assessments, maintenance planning, and system design. Sam supports projects from specification development through construction and post-installation evaluation, including engineering analysis such as wind uplift calculations per ASCE standards. He holds a CDT certification and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Penn State University.

Duncan Munroe is the Vice President of Northeast Contracting Company. Duncan is a seasoned roofing professional with over 40 years of experience in the industry, spanning commercial and residential sectors. His career includes roles as Roof Mechanic, Foreman, Superintendent, and Service Manager, as well as 20 years as an owner/operator of a roofing company. He has also held leadership positions as a Branch Manager and Regional Manager, bringing extensive expertise across all phases of roofing operations and management.

Time: 6pm-8pm (6-7 presentation, 7-8 networking hour)
Food and beverages will be provided.

_{Photo by DGS External Affairs Unit}

Join us for a tour of the newly expanded Leckie Education Campus, where a two-story addition on the south side of the main building adds nearly 18,000 square feet of dynamic new learning space. Designed to support a growing middle school population, the addition connects directly to the existing building at both the Ground Floor and First Floor levels, functioning as a seamless extension of the original campus.

As we explore the connection points, you will see how the new construction integrates into existing interior spaces, allowing the addition to feel cohesive and fully embedded within the school’s daily life.

A key highlight of this project is the thoughtful execution of construction while classes remained in session. Middle school students continued learning on site in temporary trailers as careful phasing and coordination ensured uninterrupted school operations throughout the build.

Following completion of the addition and the relocation of students and staff into their permanent spaces, the temporary two-story and one-story trailers were removed. In their place, a new playground now anchors the rear green area of the site, adjacent to the Outdoor Learning Area. This transformation enhances campus functionality while strengthening the connection between structured play and outdoor education.

Through this carefully phased approach, the project not only expanded instructional capacity but also elevated the overall campus environment — creating a more connected, vibrant place to learn and grow.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize and evaluate how stylistic continuity, material selection, and color composition contribute to occupant well-being, accessibility, and intergenerational connection within the built environment.
• Understand how to incorporate small collaborative student spaces into school layouts to support life safety, flexibility, occupant comfort, and active learning within educational facilities.
• Create biophilic environments that enhance indoor environmental quality and occupant health by incorporating wood materials, green and earth tones, and natural light into interior spaces.
• Compare and evaluate the design, performance, building envelope integration, durability, and long-term maintenance considerations of rainscreen porcelain tile systems with traditional rainscreen assemblies to support resilient and sustainable construction.

Presented by:

Elena Skotar, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Associate
R. McGhee & Associates

Ronnie McGhee, FAIA, LEED AP
Principal
R. McGhee & Associates

Vivian Frias
Project Manager
Keystone Plus Construction

Join the AIA DC Advocacy Committee & Urban Design Committee for an engaging conversation with the DC Office of Planning on DC 2050, the District’s Comprehensive Plan guiding growth, equity, and resilience through the next 25 years. This event brings architects, planners, and civic leaders together to explore the vision, priorities, and policy framework shaping Washington, DC’s future. Learn how housing, transportation, sustainability, economic development, and design excellence intersect in the plan, and how the architecture community can meaningfully contribute. Whether you’re deeply involved in advocacy or just curious about what’s next for the city, this discussion offers insight, dialogue, and a chance to help shape DC’s path to 2050.

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand how the DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan establishes regulatory frameworks, land use policies, zoning standards, and building performance requirements that directly impact life safety, accessibility, environmental performance, and public welfare.
• Evaluate how DC 2050 addresses housing affordability, equity, sustainability, transportation, and climate resilience through planning and design strategies that influence energy efficiency, environmental health, infrastructure safety, and resilience.
• Analyze the implications of the Comprehensive Plan for architectural practice, including code compliance, life-safety systems, accessibility standards, environmental systems integration, and material selection within evolving regulatory contexts.
• Identify opportunities for architects and allied professionals to advance public health, safety, and welfare through advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and participation in public processes that shape equitable and resilient development outcomes.
   

Presented by: Radhika Mohan, Ryan Hand, Nick Kushner

Radhika Mohan is a community development strategist, urban designer, and real estate development leader with over 15 years of experience guiding complex, high-impact projects across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She serves as the Deputy Director of Development, Design, and Preservation at the DC Office of Planning. Radhika previously worked at Gensler, where she led multidisciplinary teams delivering large-scale urban design, master planning, and community engagement projects for clients ranging from local and federal governments to private developers. Radhika brings deep expertise in inclusive community engagement, mixed-use and transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and large-scale land redevelopment. Her career spans senior leadership roles in architecture and design, real estate development, housing policy and advisory services, and municipal planning. An American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) member, Radhika holds dual master’s degrees in City and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University and an active civic leader, speaker, and board member committed to advancing equitable, sustainable urban development. Radhika resides in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Ward 3 with her family.

Ryan Hand is the Associate Director for Citywide Planning at the DC Office of Planning where he leads a team of cross-sector policy experts who conduct cutting-edge research, provide strategic guidance, and manage the District’s Comprehensive Plan. Previously, Ryan held economic planning, community planning, and regional planning positions where he worked on a range of plans including economic development strategies, sustainability strategies, small area plans, and regional strategic investment plans. Ryan holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the Catholic University of America, a graduate certificate in arts and culture strategy from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Wooster.

Nick Kushner, AICP, is a Senior Cross-Systems Planner with the DC Office of Planning (OP) and Project Manager for DC 2050, the District's next comprehensive plan. Prior to joining OP in 2024, Nick was a Community Planner with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Project Manager for DPR’s 20-year parks and recreation master plan, Ready2Play. Nick has also worked with the DC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services on Age-Friendly-DC, a citywide plan to make DC accommodating for all ages, and as a Capital City Fellow with the DC Department of Energy and Environment, where he worked on the city’s long-range sustainability plan, Sustainable DC. Nick has a BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a Dual Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Public and International Affairs from Virginia Tech.
 

Organized by: AIA|DC Advocacy Committee & Urban Design Committee

Sponsored by: EskewDumezRipple & Torti Gallas

Women's Month Panel hosted by DCNOMA and AIA DC Women in Architecture

Join us for an inspiring and candid conversation highlighting women who are shaping the future of architecture through leadership, resilience, and impact.

This dynamic panel brings together four accomplished architects and design leaders representing diverse backgrounds, career stages, and lived experiences. From firm ownership and corporate leadership to advocacy, licensure journeys, and motherhood, this discussion will explore what it truly means to lead in today’s architectural profession.

Panelists will share personal insights on:

• Navigating leadership as women in a historically underrepresented field
• Balancing motherhood and professional growth
• Pursuing licensure at different stages of life and career
• Leading as immigrant and Latina professionals
• Building and sustaining independent practices
• Thriving within global firms while maintaining identity and purpose
• Advocating for equity and representation in the built environment 

This conversation goes beyond titles and resumes. It centers the real, nuanced experiences of women advancing architecture through practice, mentorship, ownership, and advocacy.

Whether you are a student, emerging professional, licensed architect, firm leader, or ally, this panel offers meaningful insight into how leadership evolves — and how women continue to redefine what it looks like in our profession.

We look forward to a thoughtful, empowering discussion and community dialogue.

River Park Mutual Homes (RPMH) is a striking midcentury modern cooperative community at 1301 Delaware Avenue SW in Washington, DC. Spanning eleven acres in the heart of Southwest, the property includes two elegant eight-story towers completed in 1962 with 380 co-op residences, as well as 138 three- and four-story townhomes that create a village-like setting within the city.

Designed by Charles M. Goodman and developed by the Reynolds Metals Company, RPMH is a masterclass in midcentury modern design. Its distinctive metal grille façades and dramatic barrel-vaulted roofs give the complex a bold and unmistakable presence in Washington.

Built during the sweeping urban renewal that reshaped Southwest, RPMH became one of the first racially integrated residential developments in the District. On this tour, we will explore how Goodman balanced density with openness and modern materials with human scale, revealing a community that reflects both architectural innovation and an important chapter in the city’s social history.

The tour will meet at the east entry gate to the River Park community at 1301 Delaware Avenue SW.  The east gate is a quick walk from Waterfront Metro Station (Green Line) and directly adjacent to the Delaware Ave SW 1301-1311 stop of the Metrobus C55 Route. 

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the pre-1960s built environment of Southwest Washington, DC, and assess the effects of urban renewal on community planning and neighborhood form.
• Identify defining elements of midcentury modern design, including massing, materials, and site planning, and evaluate their impact on livability and human scale.
• Examine the work of Charles M. Goodman, focusing on his integration of density, open space, and modern materials to support resident well-being.
• Evaluate the cooperative housing model, considering its planning, ownership structure, and long-term implications for community stability and welfare.

Presented by:

Emily Bacher, AIA
Senior Architect
Quinn Evans

_{Graphics by Stanley Hallet, FAIA}

Rehab City challenges the very premise of the traditional correctional facility, proposing a new architectural model where every square foot of building and landscape is designed to prepare residents for a successful return to civil society. In this 20-minute presentation followed by open discussion, architect Stanley Hallet introduces a comprehensive vision for a restorative justice campus that redefines the relationship between security, dignity, and opportunity. Internationally presented at the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and nationally at the American Correctional Association (ACA), the project has sparked dialogue among correctional leaders and policymakers.

At its core, Rehab City replaces large, impersonal cell blocks with small-scale residential floors of 14 single rooms, fostering safety, community, and accountability. Advanced technology streamlines operations, reducing time spent on manual counts and increasing time available for education, vocational training, and reentry preparation. Sustainable systems, including solar energy and integrated food production, create both environmental responsibility and economic efficiency.

The campus model extends beyond housing to include agricultural production, on-site restaurants, a token-based work economy, and meaningful job training that builds real-world skills. A secure but separate hotel supports family reunification, transforming visitation into a normalized and restorative experience. A central “Main Street” brings essential services—such as employment assistance, social services, and community organizations—onto the campus, embedding reentry support into daily life rather than postponing it until release.

Rehab City offers a bold, hopeful alternative to conventional prison design—one that aligns architecture, operations, and social purpose in pursuit of reduced recidivism and safer communities.

Presented by:

Stanley Ira Hallet, FAIA, is Former Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at The Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, DC, and Professor Emeritus of Architecture. Over a distinguished academic career spanning more than four decades, he taught undergraduate and graduate studios exploring the relationships between culture, urban design, landscape, and architecture. His international experience includes service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia and a Fulbright-Hayes Lecturer at the University of Kabul, as well as leading architecture programs in Rome, Paris, and at the Université Tunis Carthage.

Hallet has lectured widely in the United States and Europe and published in major architectural journals. He is the co-author of The Traditional Architecture of Afghanistan and has produced documentary films with his wife, filmmaker Judith Dwan Hallet, including The Tale of the Tongs, which premiered at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. His recent work focuses on alternative models of incarceration, presented internationally through his project Rehab City.

A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Hallet has received 12 AIA design awards, the AIA-DC Centennial Award (2022), and the 2023 Architect of the Year award from the DC Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has served on numerous academic and professional design juries worldwide.

Learning Objectives: 

• Evaluate architectural, urban, and landscape design alternatives to traditional incarceration models, and assess how these approaches can improve occupant safety, rehabilitation outcomes, and community welfare.
• Analyze how the integration of work, education, and therapeutic spaces within correctional environments can support mental health, skill development, and successful reentry, while maintaining life safety and operational security.
• Examine how on-site agriculture, food preparation, and mentor-led restaurant programs can contribute to occupant health, nutritional well-being, vocational training, and reduced institutional violence.
• Identify design considerations for extending rehabilitative correctional models to women with children and juveniles, including safety, developmental needs, trauma-informed environments, and family reunification support.