Join AIA|DC's Design Excellence Committee for a film screening and panel discussion highlighting the profound contributions of South American women architects in the world of creativity, design, and diversity.

This program is part of a 4-part series showcasing 4 countries: Argentina, Peru, Chile and Brazil. Each session will include 4 panelists from the represented country that will share their work.

The series explore representation of diverse typologies of unseen architecture in South American countries all seen from the eyes of local women architects.

This 4x4 = 16 Chile showcases the work of architects Mirene Elton, Loreto Lyon, Jeannette Plaut and Cazú Zegers.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover the seamless dialogue between Chilean architecture, the Andes Cordilleras and the Southern Pacific Ocean; resulting in buildings that inhabit their territory and environment with respect and leaving no trace.

• Illustrate the use of wood as a building material from context to detail; by means of combining high experimentation and low-tech construction.

• Identify the Chilean rural house typology related to its roots in local and sustainable materials.

• Discuss the overall view of women in the design and construction business in Chile, and how they are dedicated to activities related to the profession and gender.

Presented by:

Francesca Franchi, AIA - Presenter

Maria Candelaria Ryberg - Moderator   

Mirene Elton Pérez

Mirene Elton graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 1993. She continued her specialized studies by graduating with a Master of Science (Built Environment) from the University of London, 2001.

Elton is a founding partner of the office elton_léniz arquitectos asociados together with the architect Mauricio Léniz. Throughout their career they have been highlighted as young architects by Catholic University in 1997 and as 'Emerging Architectural Office AOA', by the Association of Architects Offices, 2009; among other important national and international awards.

Her academic experience includes a trajectory of 20 years as an associate professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chileand as professor of classroom workshop at the Universidad Andrés Bello and Universidad del Desarrollo at national level.
To date, her work has been published in different media in Chile and worldwide through diverse platforms, collaborating in prominent exhibitions such as "Andes Shadow, The survey as a transforming experience", 15th Venice Architecture Biennale 2016, the participation in Cut'n'Paste exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, MoMA. New York and the Iconic Award, Germany. Winners Best of Best Innovative Architecture. She received the award for Woman Architect, 'MA Awards 2022' in the consecrated category, which highlights the work of contemporary woman architect carried out in the territory of Chile. She has been on the jury of many competitions and has given lectures throughout Chile and internationally.

Her office, plus a varied list of collaborators including artists, architects, designers and photographers have worked on a wide range of commissions independently. Their work has included objects and furniture, exhibition installation, commercial spaces, interior design, housing, residential buildings, urban development, sculpture, and public and educational spaces.

Loreto Lyon

Loreto Lyon is principal of Beals & Lyon Arquitectos, based in Santiago, Chile. She received the title of Architect from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile) in 2005. In 2011 she received a Master of Science degree (MSc) in ‘Environmental Design and Engineering’ from the Bartlett, University College of London (UCL). From 2004 to 2010 she worked as an associate architect with the Chilean architect Smiljan Radic, on several projects and competitions, such as the Vik Winery and the Museo de Arte Precolombino.

Lyon has been the head of the School of Architecture at the Universidad San Sebastián, in Santiago, since 2022. She has also been director of the School of Architects of Chile (2020-2023), where she co-curated and co-directed the last Architectural Biennale in Chile, “Habitats Vulnerables” (January 2023). Lyon also teaches a studio unit at the Universidad Católica de Chile, where she is an assistant professor. She has been a visiting Critic at Cornell University AAP; run workshops at the IUAV in Venice, Scola da Cidade in Sao Paulo and Universidad Católica del Perú.

In 2012, she co-founded the architectural studio Beals & Lyon Arquitectos, together with Alejandro Beals; an independent practice distinguished by careful attention to context, materials, and details. Their interests and work range from landscape and infrastructure, public buildings and spaces, to interior and furniture design. They have published, lectured and exhibited extensively. In 2016 Ediciones ARQ published the monograph Beals & Lyon Architects: Public Voids, featuring a selection of their works regarding public architecture.

The studio has been recognized with different design awards like the Oscar Niemeyer for Latin American Architecture and Plataforma Arquitectura’s Building of the Year Award; both for the project Nancagua Town Hall in Central Chile, in 2020. In 2023 they won the curatorial and design competition for the Chilean pavilion “Moving Ecologies” at the Venice Biennale “Laboratory of the Future”.

Jeannette Plaut

Jeannette Plaut is an architect trained at the University of Chile as well as an architectural critic and academic. She is co-founder and director of CONSTRUCTO and director of YAP_CONSTRUCTO, a Young Architects Program developed in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art.

In 2016, she was selected by MoMA to be part of the museum’s International Curatorial Institute in Modern and Contemporary Art. Plaut led the team that created the models for the MoMA’s 2015 exhibition Latin America in Construction.

Plaut has worked as a Latin American correspondent for several media outlets and has served as editor-in-chief of Trace magazine since 2010. From 2000 to 2009, she was architectural editor of Ambientes magazine. Plaut was curator of the Chilean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo, Director of the XV Chilean Architecture Biennial (2006), Director of the International Conference of Architects at the XIV Chilean Architecture Biennial (2004), and Coordinator of the International Conference of Architects at the XIV Chilean Architecture Biennial (2002).

From 2004 to 2010, she was a consultant for the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s Division of Sustainable Development and Human Settlements. She is the author of several books, including PULSO: New Architecture in Chile, PULSO 2: New Architecture in Latin America, LATAM: Contemporary Latin American Architecture, and LATAM 2.

Plaut has taught architectural studios at the Universidad Católica in Chile, Universidad de Chile and at Andrés Bello University and has spoken at several institutions, including the University of Leipzig, Universidad Católica, MoMA, Center for Architecture, University of Johannesburg, Federico Santa María University, among others. She currently serves on the jury for the Rolex Mentor & Protégés Arts Initiative and has served on the juries for the Ibero-American Biennia, the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize, and the Dhaka Art Summit. She also co-curated EXTRA-ORDINARY: New Practices in Chilean Architecture at the Center for Architecture and CAMPUS-AULA: Contemporary Educational Architecture now on view at the Center for Architecture.

Cazú Zegers

Cazú Zegers is a Chilean artist and architect, founder and director of Estudio Cazú Zegers. In 2019 she was included in the prestigious ELLE Decor Architecture A-List and a year later, she was recognized as one of the Latin American architects who break down barriers by Forbes Magazine.

She is an ambassador for Marca Chile, founder of the Lastarria Observatory, today Fundación +1000 and co-creator of the collaborative and educational platform Andes Workshop, together with Grupo Talca. Zegers has also served as a Visiting Professor at YSoA (Yale School of Architecture) and is a leading international speaker on various subjects.

Zegers and her architectural practice have a strong social and sustainable focus, with strong roots in the place, its local processes and materials, especially wood. Her projects cover a wide range of multidisciplinary research, moving through different scales, from the territory to the object and from the object to the territory, in a creative process that is born from geopoetry.

Her work has been awarded various prizes, such as the Versailles Grand Prix, the National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World Award and the Latin American Architecture Grand Prix (1993), among others. She has also been a finalist for the ArcVision award (2016) and in 2021 she was awarded for innovation in architecture by receiving the Dora Riedel Distinction.

During 2022 she was a finalist for the Chilean National Architecture Award, along with Smiljan Radic and Fernando Pérez Oyarzún. Today she leads as an expert in ethno-architecture and ethno-engineering in Latin America.

Organized by:

AIA|DC Design Excellence Committee

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

SILVER DONORS

AECOM

HOK

MOYA

Perkins&Will

BRONZE DONORS

-Avalon Bay Communities

-Cunningham / Quill Architects PLLC

-David Haresign, FAIA

-Francesca Franchi, AIA

-Frederick & Cederna Architects

-Gerald Briggs, FAIA and Randy Briggs

-HGA

-Landdesign

-Mariela Buendia-Corrochano, IIDA, Assoc. AIA

-rdc

-shalom baranes associates architects

-SMITHGROUP

-WDG

-Whiting-Turner

-William Hodges Hendrix, AIA

-Winstanley Architects & Planners

VENUE PROVIDED BY:

-CUArch

Join AIA|DC's Fellows Public Programs Committee for a fall social get-together with chapter Fellows, recent Fellow applicants, and the Emerging Architects Committee

If you haven’t heard the buzz around mass timber as the one of the newest, most sustainable and cutting edge building materials, it’s time to tune in. Join us for a tour of 80 M Street SE, the District’s first commercial office building to feature mass timber construction, this September. We will hear from the project team, including representatives from Hickok Cole, Arup, Davis, and WJE as we tour two floors of cross-laminated timber added atop the existing 7-story building. The tour will cover the benefits of mass timber, structural implications, and challenges encountered when using mass timber in design, particularly as they relate to the enclosure. The tour will be followed by a happy hour and networking on the patio, which features incredible Capitol Riverfront views.

Schedule:

5-5:30 PM: Check-in

5:30-6:30 PM: Tour

6:30-8 PM: Networking and Happy Hour on the 80 M St Rooftop

Learning Objectives:

• Ability to explain the ins and outs of mass timber construction.
• Understand key structural design implications for mass timber.
• Explore best practices for water and air control on a mass timber project.
• Discuss sustainability advantages of incorporating mass timber into design.

Presented by:

Jason Wright, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Jason Wright is an Associate Principal and Senior Project Architect at Hickok Cole with two decades experience designing, renovating, and constructing commercial and institutional buildings. Highly technical by nature, his specialty is focusing on detailing and how buildings are assembled to reinforce the design concept. Jason is an advocate for advancing building codes to support further progress and innovation in sustainable design and participates in the new code development process for The District of Columbia. Internally, Jason leads the firm’s Technical Operations and Quality Control Committees.
Jason is a registered architect in Virginia and LEED AP B+C accredited. He is a member of AIA, DCBIA, and NFPA. In the District of Columbia Jason serves on the Construction Codes Coordinating Board and is a Member of the Technical Advisor Groups on Fire & Life Safety and Accessibility. Jason received his Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 2000 and a Bachelor of Building Science with a Psychology concentration earlier that year.

Martina Driscoll, PE
Unit Manager/Principal (WJE/Falls Church, Virginia)
Since joining WJE in 1997, Ms. Driscoll has participated in and/or served as Project Manager for a wide variety of projects including forensic investigation, repair document preparation and oversight during implementation, field performance testing, and building enclosure consulting and commissioning (BECx) on a wide range of buildings and structures, including work on the Washington Monument following the Mineral Virginia earthquake, BECxP for the ~ $1.5 billion National Geospatial Intelligence Agency East Campus, Fort Belvoir, VA and serving as the building enclosure consultant to Hickok Cole for 80 M Street. She was Co-Chair to Dan Lemieux (WJE) on ASTM Committee E06.55.09, Exterior Enclosure Commissioning and a primary author of the resulting standard ASTM E2813: Standard Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning. She has authored or co-authored several papers and presentations on the topic of building enclosure design, construction, and performance.

Patrick Cotter
As Vice President at Davis Construction, Patrick has the experience necessary to look at a project and identify scheduling and cost gaps, and he has the ability to fill those gaps with creative and innovative solutions. He helps clients and designers from the concept phase onward to find the right path to building efficiently. Building repositioning is an extensive process with complicated sequences, and Patrick finds the simple solutions hidden within the elaborate operations. Having been with DAVIS since he graduated college, he has played a fundamental role in positioning DAVIS as one of the nation's best builders. Patrick also ensures our teams have the support they need to make every project a winner. He also contributes his time to organizations that make our industry better, like Leadership Greater Washington!

Lauren Wingo, PE
Lauren Wingo is a licensed structural engineer in Arup’s Washington, DC office. She is a regional expert in structural sustainability and focuses on lower carbon material adoption, including mass timber. Lauren's mass timber project experience includes the Washington Latin Public Charter School Gymnasium, the first cross-laminated timber project in Washington, DC, and 80 M Street, the first mass timber overbuild along the East Coast. Lauren serves on the leadership group for the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) SE 2050 Commitment Program and the steering committee for the SEI Sustainability Committee. She has previously served as a reviewer for the US Forest Service Mass Timber University Grant Program and juror for the WoodWorks Wood Design Awards.

Organized by:

AIA|DC Building Enclosure Council

Join AIA|DC’s Urban Design Committee for a tour of the newly constructed the collection at R Street - 424 – 444 R Street/ Africare House, led by key members from the design team. Located in the historic Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC, this project is a case study in missing middle typologies. The project provides a variety of housing choices, and a total of twenty-three units, all within one urban block, and this guided tour will offer insights on research methodology, design process, sustainable strategies, challenges and the lessons learned on this multi-component project.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key elements and programming relating to Revitalization & Adaptive Reuse projects.
• Describe how missing middle housing typologies can help address complex issues relating to Resilience, and Equity.
• Identify challenges as well as innovative design solutions utilized at 424 – 444 R Street/ Africare House
• Describe how Adaptive reuse & infill development can play a vital role in preserving and strengthening local communities , culture & historic significance.

Presented by:

Will Teass, AIA - Managing Principal, Teass \ Warren Architects Charles Warren, AIA - Principal Of Design, Teass \ Warren Architects

Organized by:

AIA|DC Urban Design Committee

The new chancery building for the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC is located on Scott Circle and replaces the existing embassy building built in the 1970s. SGH was the structural engineer of record and also provided facade consulting on this new six-story, concrete framed building, featuring a custom glass and copper-clad facade, mimicking the copper hues of the landscape of Australia. In this session, we will discuss the structural, security, and facade design of the project from concept design through the end of construction. We will present various design challenges involved with the building's structure and facade as well as discuss constraints of building on the footprint of the existing embassy.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the structural design challenges involved in the design of the project considering the constraints of building on the footprint of the existing building and security design requirements.
• Understand the design challenges of a custom façade system, including challenges associated with the use of copper on building facades and thermal performance.
• Understand the challenges during construction of the concrete superstructure, including foundation construction and coordination of trades.
• Understand the process of procurement of a custom façade system, including laboratory performance mockups, fabrication, installation, and field quality control.

Presented by:

Jeff Viano

Jeff Viano is a Senior Project Manager and structural engineer SGH's Washington, DC office. Jeff and has more than fifteen years of experience providing consulting structural engineering services for a broad range of design, investigation, rehabilitation, projects. He possesses a keen understanding of the structural behavior of various construction materials, including concrete, steel, post-tensioned and prestressed concrete, masonry, wood, and cold-formed steel. Jeff is a member of the District of Columbia Construction Codes Coordinating Board (CCCB) and is the chair of the structural TAG.

John Jackson

John Jackson is an Associate Principal with SGH's Building Technology group in the Washington, DC office. John graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with degrees in architecture and structural engineering and has more than nineteen years of experience in building-enclosure design. He applies his creative and technical skills to the design and engineering of innovative enclosure systems, having worked on a wide variety of projects domestically and abroad, with particular expertise in curtain walls, custom glazing systems, structural glass, and glass investigations. In addition to his work in building enclosure design, John is an active member of SGH’s Glass Special Interest Group, ASTM Subcommittee E06.52 – Glass Use in Buildings and regularly lectures on building enclosure design.

Organized by:

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Schedule:

4:00 – 5:30, Meet & Greet Reception

5:30 – 6:20, LED Fixtures: Determining the Benchmark for Quality

6:30 - 7:30, Illuminating Our Experiences with Human-Centric Lighting

7:30 – 8:00, Happy Hour

Course Details:

LED Fixtures: Determining the Benchmark for Quality

Overview:

Dive into the multifaceted realm of LED lighting with our comprehensive course designed for both beginners and industry veterans. Initiate your journey by unpacking key metrics that define light quality, including the intricacies of color temperature and the color rendering index. Subsequently, sharpen your skills in deciphering fixture specification sheets, pinpointing vital LED quality indicators that make all the difference. As the course progresses, gain the expertise to recommend the ideal LED light sources tailored for various settings, be it a cozy home or a bustling office space. Concluding with a deep dive into innovative light mixing techniques, this course promises a holistic understanding, equipping you to illuminate spaces with precision and flair.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the metrics used to describe the quality of light including color temperature and color rendering index.
• Identify important LED quality metrics on fixture specification sheets.
• Recommend the appropriate LED light source for specific applications in both residential and commercial environments.
• Describe several different approaches to light mixing.

Illuminating Our Experiences with Human-Centric Lighting

Overview:

Delve deep into the transformative world of human-centric lighting with this comprehensive guide designed for forward-thinking designers. By unlocking its potential, you can seamlessly infuse its principles into your projects. Navigate the common misconceptions and gain profound clarity on how such lighting immensely benefits individuals, optimizes spaces, and adds value to businesses. An essential highlight of this approach is the beautiful synergy between electric light and the rejuvenating qualities of natural daylight. By mastering an integrated design approach, professionals can truly harness optimal results. This course is a golden opportunity for interior architects, designers, and lighting specialists to elevate their projects to a new zenith, always prioritizing human comfort and well-being.

Learning Objectives:

• How to define human centric lighting
• What benefits it can provide to people, buildings, and businesses
• How to practically apply it when designing projects. It also addresses the intersection between electric light and natural daylight
• How achieving a human centric design requires an integrated approach to those two disciplines

It is the responsibility of every building designer, contractor, consultant, owner and developer to consider the role of embodied carbon in their project's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Embodied carbon, the GHG emissions arising from manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials, represents a significant portion of global GHG emissions. Quantifying and reducing embodied carbon on our building projects is an urgent task. Representatives from building design, science and technology will be coming together for a panel discussion on:

• a variety of strategies for reducing embodied carbon in building enclosure systems
• challenges of reducing embodied carbon in building enclosure systems
• the need for more research and development on low-carbon building materials and the development of clear guidance on how to measure and reduce embodied carbon

Schedule:

5:30 PM — Check-in

6-7 PM — Panel

7-8 PM — Networking and Happy Hour

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the different factors that contribute to the embodied carbon of building enclosure systems.
• Identify strategies for reducing the embodied carbon of building enclosure systems.
• Understand the challenges of reducing embodied carbon and how to overcome them.
• Learn about the latest trends in low-carbon building materials and technologies.

Presented by:

Stephanie Stubbs, Assoc. AIA, PMP

Stubbs is Vice President, Technical Solutions with the National Institute of Building Sciences. Stubbs has served as a Director for NIBS since 2009, and her former title was Director of Facility Lifecycle Management. She manages projects for a number of federal agencies, including the General Services Administration, as well as NIBS councils and joint research ventures with the AIA, such as the BRIK research portal and the Building Enclosure Councils network. Prior to joining NIBS, Stubbs worked for the American Institute of Architects for almost 30 years, serving as researcher and project manager for the AIA Research Corporation, technical editor for Architectural Technology magazine, and then as managing editor for AIArchitect newspaper and Architecture magazine. She earned her BA in Environmental Design and Master of Architecture from SUNY @ Buffalo.

Tom Lenar, AIA, LEED AP, Design Executive at Clark Construction Group

Tom Lenar, AIA, LEED AP: As Design Executive at Clark Construction Group, Tom oversees the Design Management team in Clark’s Project Development Services group. He is involved in some of the largest projects being built in the Washington DC area, and focuses on reducing the project design risk associated with development and construction. In that endeavor, Tom builds collaborative relationships with design teams that result in project documentation that is clear, complete, and coordinated such that the builder’s needs for subcontractor scope and project delivery are reflected in CD’s and that the Clark team has a more complete understanding of the project’s goals and design intent. While he advises on a broad range of technical design issues, in the pursuit of Net Zero project goals Tom helps teams connect the dots between the varied requirements of a delivered project to the early analysis and decision making that leads to successful outcomes for both embodied and operational carbon. Tom is also Director on the American Institute of Architects Washington, DC Chapter Board of Director. In his roles prior to joining Clark, his career has been defined as an architect, principal and founding partner at a local design firm, and a real estate development consultant.

Kyung C. Yoon, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Project Consultant 

Kyung C. Yoon, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Project Consultant, is a Project Consultant in the Building Technology Group at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) and serves as a Secretary for the DC Building Enclosure Council (DC BEC). At SGH, Kyung specializes in building science and in-house research, work for which he has participated: enclosure studies for embodied carbon, embodied carbon research on insulation materials, and the impact of passive house envelope systems on embodied carbon. Prior to joining SGH, Kyung practiced as an enclosure consultant at The Facade Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (now part of RWDI). He earned his BS and MS in Architectural Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Sophie Martin, PE, LEED AP, CPHC
Sophie is a Building Science Engineer at Page Southerland Page with a passion for supporting high performance, sustainable building design. Sophie is a Professional Engineer, LEED AP, and Certified Passive House Consultant who transitioned to Page from a prior role in building enclosure consulting and commissioning. She primarily focuses on embodied carbon analysis using a variety of tools including Tally, thermal/hygrothermal analysis using THERM/WUFI, enclosure review, daylight analysis in ClimateStudio, and LEED certification. She has worked on a variety of project types including universities, embassies and other government buildings, community centers, elementary schools, hospitals, industrial, commercial, and mixed-use. Sophie focuses on exploring the role of enclosures in building energy performance, embodied carbon emissions, and air, temperature and moisture control. Sophie is the Events Liaison for the Building Enclosure Council.

Roark Redwood, Moderator

Roark is the Senior Vice President of Technical and Government Solutions with the National Institute of Building Sciences. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, Redwood is responsible for the overall performance of the Technical and Government Solutions department by ensuring innovative execution and delivery of services, completing programs, and expanding new business development opportunities. Redwood is an architect with 23 years of experience, delivering federal, cultural, leisure and entertainment, higher education, mixed-use, aviation, industrial, commercial, and residential projects. He is an experienced leader of diverse teams of professionals for a variety of clients and project types, complexities, budgets, and delivery methods. From a new Universal Studios theme park in Beijing, China worth more than $3 billion to a U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso, Africa, to IDIQ contracts for the Architect of the Capitol, Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and Records Administration, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Redwood excels at leading complex, high-risk, and high-profile endeavors. He is passionate about the advancement of building science and technology to improve the built environment and committed to improving lives through collaboration to integrate science into the built environment. Redwood actively volunteers, including as a Director on the American Institute of Architects Washington, DC Chapter Board of Directors, as the Society of American Military Engineers Architecture Community of Interest Chair for Professional Education Programs, and serving on National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) committees.

Organized by:

AIA|DC Building Enclosure Council

National Institute of Building Sciences

Historic windows require an understanding of historic construction techniques and methodology, as well as attention to design detail to maintain aesthetic accuracy. This multimedia presentation reviews the history of fenestrations and aspects of replication of windows in historically significant buildings. The course will cover several aspects of historic window including grids, muntins, shadow-lines, finishes, mullions, glazing, operations, and intricate details. We will also discuss how to work with the local and regional Historic Review Committee as well as dealing with hazardous materials including lead, PCB’s, and asbestos. Finally, we will discuss the pros and cons of the “replace vs renew” options concerning installation, thermal, acoustic, energy, light and recycling analysis.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the challenges and possibilities presented during historic window replication projects.
• Identify components and features of historic fenestration systems and apply that knowledge in the specification of window systems.
• Discuss strategies for partnering with Historic Review Boards.
• Analyze potential environmental concerns and investigate best practices for recycling and abatement.

Presented by:

Josh Johns

Architectural Sales Representative, Winco Window Company

Josh Johns offers deep experience in the architectural products industry, with a comprehensive background in the fenestration, electrical and commercial lighting industries.

Johns consults with architects, glazing contractors, and owners across the Northeast Region on projects of all scopes and sizes, serving markets including education, government, healthcare, and mixed-use. He is well versed designing specialized solutions for the unique requirements of cold climates and severe weather- prone states along the Atlantic Seaboard.

Since joining WINCO in 2019, Johns has been responsible for cultivating and building relationships with architects, general contractors, glazing contractors, and building owners to implement innovative solutions for today’s most challenging fenestration issues. His areas of expertise include preserving architectural design, maximizing energy efficiency, analyzing specifications, and providing guidance on
safety and security options.

Johns holds his Fenestrations Associates Professional Certificate from the FGIA. He is also a certified member of the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

In his free time, Johns enjoys baseball, fishing, and other sporting activities. He’s been married to his high school sweetheart for 14 years. They reside in O’Fallon, Missouri with their four children.

Organized by:

Winco Window Company

Join an exclusive guided tour of the Rubell Museum DC and Gallery 64 with Beyer Blinder Belle.

Completed in 2022, the Rubell Museum occupies a Georgian Revival public school building that served Southwest DC’s Black community from 1906 until 1982, before serving a variety of other uses and falling into disrepair. Its adaptive reuse brings back to life an important National Register of Historic Places landmark as a public resource. It is adjacent to Gallery 64, a 12-story, 20% affordable residential building that forms a contemporary counterpart to the historic museum building.

This program is part of the Sense of Place Tour Series.

Presented by Beyer Blinder Belle

Beyer Blinder Belle, founded in 1968 with offices in New York City, Washington, DC, and Boston, engages in architecture, planning, and interiors. A persistent exploration of historic, cultural, and civic meaning guides our work, while our design is contemporary and reflects the materials and technology of today.

Hany Hassan, FAIA—Partner, Director of the DC Office

Rence Gill, AIA—Principal, DC Office

Timothy Harkin, AIA—Associate, DC Office

Organized by

AIA|DC and Washington Architectural Foundation.

Learning Objectives

• Summarize the rich social and architectural history and evolution of the historic Rubell Museum building, from an elementary and high school to artists’ studios, a housing shelter, and an art museum.
• Differentiate between preservation, adaptive reuse, and architectural interventions as they pertain to the transformation of the Rubell Museum building.
• Survey trends in contemporary design, new construction, and residential living as they pertain to Gallery 64.
• Synthesize historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and minimalist contemporary design into a holistic design approach.

<sub>Photo Credit

Rubell Museum DC and Gallery 64 / Photo courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle</sub>

Across the design industry, firms large and small build their brands around the desire to make the world a better place. Those who really live their missions recognize that the world begins within the walls of their own workplace, where they have the power and responsibility to enact the change they—and their employees—want to see. The year 2020 marked a turning point for impact-driven organizations, and architecture firms of all shapes and sizes took a critical look at the delta between who they are and who they say they are to find meaningful and measurable ways to close the gap. Three years later, it’s time to ask ourselves if we’ve made the world—at least the part we can control—a better place.

This panel brings together leaders from medium, large, and extra-large firms to discuss how they used independent transparency programs to set goals and benchmark their equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. You'll learn how the pursuit of B Corp certification, IFLI’s Just label, and the UN Global Compact commitments helped them become more socially just firms—strengthening culture, expanding community impact, and bringing their mission to life along the way.

Everyone from emerging professionals to firm leaders is in a position to spark change and ensure the actions behind our words have an impact. You'll leave this session with a deeper understanding of the challenges and benefits of investing in these programs and ready to determine if one is a good fit for your firm.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe three independent transparency programs that firms can use to measure corporate responsibility, including the UN Global Compact, B Corp Certification, and the Just label
• Explain the specific policy changes and direct impact that applying for and attaining a transparency label had on three architecture firms of different sizes, including a global firm, a 100-person firm, and a 30-person firm
• Identify how participation in an independent transparency program can help their firm translate core values into measurable actions and outcomes
• Analyze the resources, effort, and stakeholders required to participate in these programs and the potential return on investment for their firm’s business and culture

Presented by:

Abigail Brown, AIA

Project Architect, Gensler

Abigail R. Brown, AIA, is a project architect at Gensler with over 14 years of experience on large scale, mixed-use, and multifamily residential projects primarily in the Washington, D.C., region. Abi serves as a 2022-2023 At-Large Director on the AIA|DC Board of Directors. She was the 2021 chair of the AIA National Young Architects Forum and the 2016 chair of the AIA|DC Emerging Architects Committee. In these roles she plans and lead programs and initiatives that provide education, networking, advocacy, and outreach opportunities for architectural professionals. Her leadership in these efforts has been recognized through the 2020 AIA National Young Architects Award and 2016 AIA|DC Emerging Architect Award. In 2021, she was named to the Building Design + Construction 40 Under 40 list.

Laura Ewan, CPSM

Senior Associate & Director of Brand + Culture, Hickok Cole

Laura Ewan, CPSM, is a senior associate and director of brand + Culture at Hickok Cole, a forward-focused design practice based in Washington, D.C. She leads a team charged with distinguishing Hickok Cole’s brand and market position in ways that further their mission to do work that matters. Laura specializes in internal and external communications practices that reinforce corporate culture, encourage transparent leadership, and drive accountability around firm goals. This includes spearheading annual strategic planning efforts, maintaining ILFI Just Label commitments, and producing the firm's award-winning Art Night fundraiser. She's an active member, past president, and current chapter advisor of SMPS Washington, D.C., and was named a Ginny Soloman Golden Tuba Award winner in 2022.

David Shove-Brown, AIA, NCARB

Partner, //3877

David Shove-Brown, AIA, NCARB, is a partner at //3877, an architectural + interiors architecture and design firm in Washington, D.C. David holds a bachelor's and a bachelor's of science in architecture from Catholic University.

As a partner at //3877, David has expertise in residential, restaurant, and health care design. His work and commentary have been featured in Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Details Magazine, the Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Hospitality Design Magazine, Boutique Design Magazine, Interior Design Magazine, Form Magazine, and the Puerto Rican-based El Nuevo Dia. David has been on numerous podcasts, including The Scrappy Entrepreneur, Business of Design, and StyleNations.

He loves coffee, bacon cheeseburgers, good beer, and, most of all, being a dad.

Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA

Global Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, HKS

Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, is from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and global director of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at HKS. As an activist architect, she works to dismantle barriers and bring visibility to underrepresented designers by creating inclusive workplaces where everyone belongs. Yiselle is a storyteller, a “Latinas in Architecture” book contributor, a 2015 Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program Scholar, cofounder of LA.IDEA DC Committee, an award-winning WIELD event founder, a 2020 AIA National Board Member, and a 2021-22 NOMA Research & Development Chair. Currently, Yiselle is the AIADC chapter president and recipient of the 2018 AIA Associate Award, the 2019 AIA Diversity Program Recognition Award, and the 2022 AIA Young Architects Award.

Organized by:

AIA|DC Equity Committee by WIELD

Sponsored by: