Join us to celebrate the opening of our two newest exhibits, and to celebrate the 2024 Chapter Design Award and Washingtonian Residential Design Award Winners!

The exhibition opening in the Sigal gallery, titled Designing a Learning City, reimagines our cities and public spaces as playful learning opportunities so that we can better prepare children for success in the 21st century. This exhibit is built upon the research supported by William Penn Foundation exploring Philadelphia's Playful Learning Landscapes Initiative. A joint project of Temple University's Infant and Child Laboratory, Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN), and the Brookings Institution. Playful Learning Landscapes is a broad umbrella initiative that marries community involvement and learning sciences with placemaking in order to design carefully curated playful experiences in everyday spaces. As it focuses on learning outcomes, particularly for children and families from under-resourced communities, Playful Learning Landscapes offers a new way to involve families in the kinds of experiences that enrich relationships and enhance children's development.

The exhibit opening in the Sorg gallery, Homesick: Camila Mancilla, challenges the traditional view of the home as a space linked to health and well-being, proposing instead that our homes also reflect our illnesses and mortality. Homesickness can be seen both as a medical condition and as a commentary on the "sick home," critiquing dense architecture that often disregards the cultural values inherent to dwelling. This exhibition serves as a theoretical and practical reflection, intertwining human behavior theories with architectural science. Each piece seeks to evoke emotions such as the repetition of memories, mania, and hysteria associated with longing and the pain of return, as described in the concept of nostalgia. At the same time, it critiques the notion of domestic architecture as inherently healthy, revealing instead how it can repress and homogenize us into a singular way of living. It invites us to view homes as places for illness rather than merely spaces for healing.

The 2024 Chapter Design and Washingtonian Residential Design Award winners are a group of extremely talented architects who not only demonstrate the value of good design, but also illustrate the wide variety of services performed by architects. Please help us to congratulate the winners and toast to this huge accomplishment!

We welcome your presence at this opening and invite you to attend. Drinks and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. 

Please join us for a behind-the-scenes architecture experience of President Lincoln's Cottage, organized in collaboration with President Lincoln's Cottage staff.

This tour, presented by President Lincoln's Cottage's Director of Preservation Jeffrey Larry, will go in depth into the architectural history of the house, as well as what it takes to preserve such a historic building. You will depart this tour with new intelligence on the history of this home, its various purposes over the years and, of course, how the beautiful Gothic revival house was built. 

Presented by: 

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Jeffrey Larry, Director of Preservation- Jeff joined the staff at President Lincoln’s Cottage as Preservation Manager in January 2008. He started his career as sole-proprietor of a restoration business in Burlington, Vermont soon after receiving a BA in Historic Preservation from Mary Washington College in 1996.  After moving to Washington D.C., he completed projects on several local historic homes and sites, including the Decatur House and the south porch of The Old Naval Hospital, a building commissioned by Abraham Lincoln in 1864 to be the District’s first naval hospital. In addition to his work at the Cottage, Jeff uses his preservation and project management skills to bring improvements to his community in Baltimore.  He serves on the Board of the Charles Village Community Foundation, an organization that provides grants for groups and individuals whose projects will enhance the neighborhood’s quality of life; he is the Vice President of the Friends of the 26th Street Corridor, a community lead group that has been working with the city to turn a section of 26th street into a park; and he is a volunteer member of the Village Learning Place’s (VLP) Facilities Committee where he has performed pro-bono restoration work, developed a cyclical maintenance plan and managed numerous restoration projects to the slate roof, brickwork, interior surfaces, and gardens.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the challenges in preserving a historic building, such as ensuring proper accessibility and maintaining integrity of the building, and how to overcome these challenges.
• Explain the importance of preserving a historic structure, including the benefits to the local community.
• Describe the cottage’s beautiful arched doorways and large windows, exploring the different characteristics of the Gothic revival style, as it relates to Washington D.C.’s diverse architecture history.
• Discuss the history of the cottage, and how the museum utilizes the building today to promote the true spirit of the Lincolns, build empathy, and inspire patrons to act upon their own ideas for social justice.

Organized by:

The District Architecture Center and President Lincoln's Cottage

In the third teen workshop, students will design a museum that reflects their own distinctive style and interests. Students will learn the planning, creative and design process for model-building.

 Leading model-builders in their fields will give each student feedback to guide each step of the way. They will demonstrate their own models and the planning process involved. 

All materials will be supplied: foam board, chipboard, balsa wood, butter board, hot glue and razors (which require adult supervision)

Students will see how different types of photography use natural and artificial elements to achieve a final product, and learn how architectural photography is like staging a scene in a movie. Students will walk to the National Portrait Gallery to use their smart phones in visually imaginative ways to capture images of the exterior and interior of the Gallery. Students will learn how to process their final photographs using the software in their own smart phones

Ron Ngiam, architect and photographer from CGS Architects, has 35+ years of experience in master planning, architecture, and interior design. His numerous design award work ranges in mixed-use development, commercial office building, multi-family residential, public sector, interiors and broadcast facilities. He is well verse in the design field, engaging design process with collaborators and bringing complex situation and requirements into an elegant solution. He earned his degree from Texas Tech University and has been in Washington DC area after graduation.

Locally, he has been serving in his neighborhood architectural review committee board. Growing up, he has developed a passion in photography, currently still pursuing architectural photography after hours with published work that can be seen in popular architectural magazine.

In this first series of teen workshops for ages 13-17, students will be learning and practicing the basics of sketching for architects. Mohammed Bilbeisi is a professor of architecture at the Oklahoma State University and has taught all over the world. He is passionate about the lost art of sketching. All materials will be supplied.

Mo Bilbeisi Artist | Art / Artist / Watercolor Paintings / Ink Sketches (mohdbilbeisiart.com) 

As the built environment generates almost 50% of global CO2 emissions, architects, engineers, planners, and building owners must work together and commit to net zero emissions by 2030 to reduce the impact on climate change as specified by various climate and decarbonization initiatives. Design professionals are uniquely suited to mitigate help resolve the climate crisis through design, educating clients, and working with navigating policy requirements to advance decarbonization and build greener cities.

One key approach to meeting these goals is adaptive use. DesignDC’s September conference will build on our previous symposiums of the year, with a focus on adaptability, resilience, and designing for change. 

Throughout this in-person symposium, we will cover new and innovative strategies for adaptive use; case studies that lend proven approaches to resilience, adaptation, survivability, and livability, and policy and design recommendations that advocate for construction, codes, zoning, and permitting solutions.

8:30am - Doors Open + Check-in
 

9:00am - Keynote: Old Buildings are the Future

• Julia Siple, AIA, LEED AP BD+C - Principal, Director of Sustainability, 
  Quinn Evans
• Sara Langmead, AIA, PE, LEED AP - Associate, Heritage Practice Co-Leader, Quinn Evans 
   

10:15am: Adaptive Use Through Building Conversions

• Eric Schlegel, AIA, LEED AP - Principal, WDG
• Susan Salsbury, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP - Sr. Associate, WDG 
• Susan Garcia, International Associate AIA - Associate Principal, WDG 
• Matt Lam - Sr. Project Designer, WDG
   

11:30am - Revitalizing Historic School Buildings for Modern Learning and Community Vision

• Marquisha Powell, AIA, LEED AP BD+C - Senior Associate at StudioMB, 
• Sasha Petersen, AIA - Associate at StudioMB

1:00pm - The Best Years Are Ahead: Why Adaptive Reuse Is Ideal for Senior Living

• Jill Cavanaugh, AIA, AICP - Partner, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners
• James Adams - Senior Vice President, Real Estate Development & Acquisitions, Maplewood Senior Living
   

2:15pm - A Case for Alternation and Addition

• Michael Winstanley  AIA, AICP - Founder and Design Director at Winstanley Architects & Planners
• Leejung Hong LEED AP - Principal at Winstanley Architects & Planners
   

3:30pm - The Equity Lens: Leveraging the Existing

• Aida Ayuk, LEED Green Associate - Sustainable Design Coordinator, EskewDumezRipple

 Thank you to our sponsors:

Washington's Penn Quarter neighborhood is the original crossroads of the Federal Capital, envisioned by city planner Pierre L'Enfant as a civic core directly between the White House and U.S. Capitol Building. 19th century Washingtonians would have considered the area the commercial center of the city, boasting a massive Center Market, department stores like Lansburgh's and Woodies, a bustling train station, and original City Hall. With the decline of urban investment in the mid-20th century, some of these old landmarks were demolished. However, through both private and public development over the last 30 years, today's Penn Quarter is once again a bustling destination.

Learn about the enterprising reuse of Penn Quarter's historic buildings, recent design investment, and contemporary additions to this diverse neighborhood in the center of the city.

Where to Meet
The tour will begin and end at the District Architecture Center
GPS Address: 421 7th Street NW

What to Bring
Sturdy walking shoes, bottled water and comfortable clothes are recommended!

Sights and stops include:
- The Landsburg
- National Archives
- FBI Headquarters
- Old City Hall
- National Building Museum
- Capitol One Arena
- Friendship Archway
- City Center
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
- Woodward and Lothrop Building
- Ford's Theater
- National Portrait Gallery
- Hotel Monaco

Learning Objectives:

• Discover the rich history and cultural significance of Penn Quarter and trace its evolution from the past to the present.
• Identify key landmarks and points of interest in the neighborhood and gain insights into their historical importance and contemporary relevance.
• Develop an understanding of one community's unique identity and ongoing revitalization efforts.
• Reflect on the significance and successes of urban development in shaping the character of Penn Quarter.

In partnership with DC Design Tours

Hear the stories behind our best loved and little-known museums on the Mall!

Washington’s famous plethora of museums are all laid out along the east side of the National Mall between the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. Called “America’s Attic,” the Smithsonian Institution is one of the largest museum organizations in the world, with 30 million annual visitors, 19 museums and over 140 million items in the collection. On this tour, explore how the Smithsonian Institution has helped shape the fabric of the National Mall since 1847, with grand buildings, secret gardens, and both beloved and reviled designs.

Please note we’ll be discussing the museums from the exterior, with the exception of the National Gallery of Art, which we will briefly go inside!

What to Bring

Sturdy walking shoes, bottled water and comfortable clothes are recommended!

Where to Meet

• Meet your guide outside the Smithsonian Castle
• GPS Address: 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560
• Your tour will end at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial

Sights and stops include:

• Smithsonian Castle & Garden
• James V. Forrestal Building (Dept of Energy)
• Arts and Industries Building
• Hirshhorn Museum
• National Air and Space Museum
• National Gallery of Art (inside and out!)
• National Museum of the American Indian
• United States Botanic Garden
• United States Capitol Building

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key landmarks and historical structures in our Nation's capital, and gain insights into their importance in American History.
• Reflect on the significance of these buildings in the urbanization of the surrounding National Mall area in Washington, DC.
• Understand the preservation efforts required to maintain these buildings, some of which are as old as 1855.
• Describe the structural style differences between the observed buildings, as it applies to the architecture period in which they were built.

In partnership with DC Design Tours

The thought of lowering your carbon footprint and doing good for the environment can seem overwhelming at first. In this talk Jaime will present 10 strategies for tackling this challenge at home and will provide resources for creating your own personal decarbonization roadmap. You will walk away feeling empowered with the knowledge and tools to get started!

Jaime Van Mourik, Associate AIA, LEED AP, is the director of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home program in addition to serving as the Zero Energy Design Designation lead for the DOE Building Technologies Office. Each day she is working toward a zero carbon emissions future for all homes.

Jaime is passionate about educating people of all ages about the impacts of the built environment on their lives. She believes that providing knowledge and opportunities for action will result in true transformation. Prior to coming to DOE, she served as the vice-president for education solutions at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) where she led a team to create and deploy education solutions for every learner whether that be a young child, a student pursuing a post-secondary degree or a professional looking to advance in their career path. She collaborated with higher education institutions and advocates across the country to develop and deliver innovative learning platforms that integrate sustainability and green building concepts into curriculum and create pathways to professional credentials. She has extensive experience leading colleges and universities looking to “go green,” guiding them through the planning and implementation process and advising on how the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system can help shape sustainability initiatives in teaching, research and practice.

She holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Virginia Tech and master's in architectural history from the University of Virginia and teaches part-time at The Catholic University of America.

Continuing our successful series from 2023, join us for Business Development 201: Building Your Base.

Our panel of industry leaders will discuss their strategies for building a network that leads to opportunity. We will focus on the critical components of business development to help mid-career architects advance to the next level of firm leadership. We encourage all attendees to invite an industry colleague to attend a Networking Happy Hour after the panel so you can begin practicing your newly learned business development skills!

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how you can begin your network of connections that will lead to business opportunities.
• Identify tools to create your own approach to business development.
• Summarize ways to nuture relationships when project work isn't happening.
• Analyze ways that these efforts can be translated into internal office advocacy and promotion.
   

Presented by: 

Philip Dickinson, Senior Director, Cushman & Wakefield

Philip Dickinson is a Senior Director at Cushman & Wakefield focused on Landlord and Tenant Representation across the DMV. Phil previously served as the Director of Office Leasing at Washington REIT, managing the company’s 2.7 million square foot Washington, DC and Suburban Maryland office portfolio. His prior stops at the Wiley Companies, ProLogis, and Archstone-Smith covered all facets of the real estate field including due diligence, sales, development, and acquisitions. Phil lives in Washington DC with his wife Emily Dickinson (HKS Architects), and two daughers, Alice and Charlotte. 

Rob Holzbach, FAIA, Principal, Director of Commercial Office, Hickok Cole

Rob’s career took off upon joining Hickok Cole in 2004. He rose through the ranks as an architect and designer before setting his sights on firm leadership and ultimately landing his current role as Principal and Director of Commercial Architecture. He embraces our Work that Matters mindset and believes every project should add value beyond expectations; for the owner and end users, as much as for the local neighborhood and broader community. Rob extends that commitment to maintaining and improving our unique culture, having been responsible for recruitment and retention for over a decade. Today, he works with the DEI Council and represents leadership as a general advisor on and champion of its initiatives. Rob is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows -one of the highest honors bestowed by the AIA upon its members. Rob’s favorite way to unwind is with his wife, son, and two high-energy Weimaraners, trekking through the woods or playing in the backyard. After that, a gin martini wouldn’t hurt—straight up, with a twist… stirred, not shaken.

Laura Kilpatrick, Industry Manager, Whiting Turner

Laura Kilpatrick is a Senior Industry Coordinator at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, based in Greenbelt, Maryland. In her role, she is responsible for coordinating various industry-related activities and projects, ensuring smooth operations and effective communication within the company. Laura has a strong background in the construction industry and has been a key player in managing and supporting large-scale projects.

Elizabeth Ward, Marketing Manager, Quinn Evans

Elizabeth Ward has worked in marketing and design in various capacities throughout her multi-faceted career spanning the agency world to the present day AEC industry. After earning a Masters in Interior Design from the Corcoran College of Art and Design, she gained experience on the technical side before transitioning back to marketing. Elizabeth feels building and maintaining relationships is critical not only for project success but also for winning future work.

Organized by:

ACEL Committee

Sponsored by: 

Whiting Turner