Home appliances were built to make our lives easier. In the past appliances served basic functions that drastically improved our standard of living. They saved inhabitants time, prevented illness, and even made it possible for households to earn two incomes. For decades, the primary function of home appliances remained the same. For example, dishwashers washed dishes, dryers dried clothes, and refrigerators kept food cold.

In the last decade, the home build industry experienced an influx of technology. Studies suggest millennials are willing to pay up to 20% more for a home with smart technology. Smart home appliances were designed to integrate with the growing trend in smart home automation systems. Smart appliances leverage Wi-fi connectivity to provide tremendous benefits such as recipe guidance, automatic replenishment, and self-diagnostics. Over 20 brands offer appliances with smart features. There are over 1,000 smart appliances on the market today. Although younger generations are more open to smart products, many consumers are intimidated by them.

This session is designed to provide a new prospective on the smart home appliances conversation with special focus on meaningful benefits for non-adopters. The format of this course will examine smart appliances in context of three major post-Pandemic design trends: entertaining at home, multi-generational living (including aging-in-place), and contact-free services. Each trend will be examined individually. Providing greater context will give clients a more relatable understanding of smart appliance benefits.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore how smart home appliances benefit multi-generational households including topics on wellness, family safety, aging-in-place, and peace of mind for parents and caretakers.
• Identify new ways to use smart appliances to take advantage of contact-free services like grocery delivery, automatic ordering of cleaning tabs, even recommending recipes to use soon-to-expire items in your fridge.
• Discover a new prospective on the smart home appliances conversation with special focus on meaningful benefits for non-adopters.
• Discuss the benefits and technical aspects of converting to more electric appliances such as induction cooktops, to advance the goals of increased electrification and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

Presented by:

Jessica Petrino Ball

Editorial Director, AJ Madison

Jessica is a proud home appliances matchmaker. It's her goal to make it easier for everyone to shop for products they will enjoy for years to come. She co-hosts the Ask the Appliance Experts Podcast, has been featured on WCBS News Radio, Design TV by Sandow, Luxe Talks, Foodie and the Beast Industry Nights, and contributes to several print and digital publications. She leads continuing education courses and was recognized as an NKBA industry 30 Under 30. She also spoke at the Voices from the Industry at the 2022-2023 Kitchen and Bath Industry Shows.

Organized by:

AIA|DC / Capital Area Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN)

The fire protection and life safety requirements of the model building codes adopted by jurisdictions change during each code cycle, with some changes having a significant impact on balancing occupant safety with design objectives. The requirements of the adopted codes and corresponding amendments differ in the major jurisdictions surrounding and including the District of Columbia. Requirements and impacts of local amendments by counties and cities result in design changes for similar buildings. Recognizing these differences in various jurisdictions provides critical information to designers and owners before and during project design. A building fully compliant with all applicable codes in one jurisdiction, may not be the case in another jurisdiction.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify various fire/life safety codes in the District of Columbia and neighboring jurisdictions
• Compare major differences in requirements between Maryland, DC, and Virginia
• Recognizing application of code requirements are interpreted differently in various jurisdictions
• Describing additional code requirements applicable in one or two cities within a specific county

Presented by:

David Wilmot, PE

Mr. Wilmot has been engaged in fire/life safety code applications in Washington, DC, and surrounding jurisdictions for over 20 years. His notable projects include DC Wharf, Pike & Rose, and all buildings within each development. Other work included Rosslyn Central Place and the repositioning of Ballston Mall. Mr. Wilmot serves on the District of Columbia Building Code Technical Advisory Group.

Morgan Hurley, PE, FSPE

Mr. Hurley works extensively with various A/E teams and ownership entities for sizable mixed-use developments throughout the region. His notable work includes The Boro in Tyson's Virginia, Smithsonian Castle renovation, and various mixed-use projects throughout Arlington County. With 30 years in the industry, Mr. Hurley is recognized as an industry leader in the performance-based design and co-authored the Society of Fire Protection Engineers' Performance Based Fire Safety Design guide.

Organized by:

Jensen Hughes

The 11th Street Bridge Park, a partnership between the Ward 8-based nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River and the District Department of Transportation, will be Washington, D.C.’s first elevated public park. Located on the piers of the old 11th Street Bridge spanning the Anacostia River, the Bridge Park will be a new venue for healthy recreation, environmental education and the arts. After a seven-month design competition, the design team of OMA+OLIN was selected in October 2014.

Join us for an informative walking tour and discussion with Building Bridges Across the River Senior Vice President & 11th Street Bridge Park Director Scott Kratz and learn about the extensive community outreach and consultative process, anchored by more than 1,000 stakeholder meetings for design, development and impact that has informed the project, and how the Bridge Park goes beyond supporting the community's cultural, physical and environmental health by also seeking to become an anchor for equitable and inclusive development in our nation’s capital by investing in affordable housing, workforce training, small business preservation and arts + culture strategies through its nationally recognized equitable development plan.

This tour is being offered as part of AIA|DC Advocacy’s Intersections Series, exploring the intersection of sustainability, resiliency, wellness, and equity.

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

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the symbiotic nature of adaptive, sustainable, and resilient design with development that promotes equity, community engagement, and civic health.

• Identify opportunities for the renovation and adaptive re-use of infrastructure for public recreation and welfare.

• Identify and describe the culmination of environmental concerns and analysis, site design, and regulations involved in projects that convert extant infrastructure into parks.

• Investigate the use of an equitable development plan to encourage affordable housing, workforce training, small business preservation, and promote arts + culture and counter gentrification.

Presented by:

Scott Kratz, Building Bridges Across the River Senior Vice President & 11th Street Bridge Park Director

For the last ten years, Scott has been working with the Ward 8 based non-profit Building Bridges Across the River and the Washington D.C. city government to transform an old freeway bridge into a park above the Anacostia River. The old 11th Street Bridges that connect Capitol Hill with communities east of the river have reached the end of their lifespan, Scott is working with the community to use the base of one of the bridges to create a one of a kind civic space supporting active recreation, environmental education and the arts.

Scott is a resident of Barrack’s Row and has lived in Washington D.C. for the last 16+ years. He has worked in the education field for twenty+ years and began his career teaching at Kidspace, a children’s museum in Pasadena, California and later as the Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of the American West at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, CA. While at the Autry, he supervised a staff that planned and implemented programs including theater, film, music, festivals, family programs, lecture series, and academic symposia. Most recently, he was the Vice President for Education at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. Scott is honored to serve on the board of the Anacostia Coordinating Council and the Anacostia Business Improvement District.

Join the Art Deco Society of Washington for a guided bus tour of major Art Deco sites in Baltimore, Maryland including the Senator Theatre, the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, and the Baltimore Trust Building. The tour includes selected interiors and a downtown walking tour with lunch at Werner's Deli (included, options including vegetarian will be provided to registrants in advance).

_Details:

_{As part of the tour package, you will receive a building list with background information and suggestions for further reading and exploring, water and snacks on the bus, and lunch at Werner's.}

_{This tour departs from and returns to the District Architecture Center at 421 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004. A 24-hour parking garage is available nearby at 616 E St NW - Penn Quarter Garage.} 

_{Don't be late! Please arrive by 8:15am as the Charter bus must leave at 8:30am sharp—we are on a tight schedule for the first stop on the tour.}

_{The bus returns to Downtown DC at 6:30pm.}

Presented by:

Kara Brown, Art Deco Society of Washington

Organized by:

The Art Deco Society of Washington, a non-profit organization incorporated to foster awareness, preservation, and appreciation of the Art Deco period in the Washington, DC area.

Get insights into what tools, connections and education opportunities the National Custom Residential Architectural Network (CRAN) and the Capital Area CRAN can provide to improve your business. Learn how to expand your portfolio and client offerings by incorporating residential architecture into your practice by leveraging resources in the DMV area. Attendees will have the chance to contribute ideas and ask questions to shape future activities for this specialized community.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover what is CRAN, an AIA Knowledge Net Community, and how it can help your practice.
• Explore educational opportunities available to your practice at the local, state and national levels around the DMV area.
• Discuss how to engage with CRAN to inform and shape the content for future educational opportunities.
• Identify networking opportunities available at the local, state and national levels that can benefit your practice and broaden your network.

Presented by:

Colleen Healey, AIA - AIA DC Committee Chair
Michael Merschat, AIA - Steering Committee Chair
Becca Wiygul Mezny, AIA - AIA NoVA Co-Chair
Helen Crettier Wilkes, AIA, Moderator - AIA PV Committee Chair

Organized by:

AIA Northern Virginia and the Capital Area CRAN (Custom Residential Architects Network, an AIA Knowledge Community), a tri-chapter committee founded jointly by AIA Northern Virginia, AIA|DC and AIA Potomac Valley.

Selecting the appropriate below-grade waterproofing solution for your specific project and unique conditions is not always an obvious choice. A wide variety of issues must be considered in order to make the proper selection — basically the “do’s and don’ts” of below-grade waterproofing.



This course will discuss the basics of below-grade waterproofing from different manufacturer’s representatives from the DMV area, including Henry Waterproofing Company, Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing, AVM Industries and GCP Applied Technologies. This presentation will cover positive-side and blind-side waterproofing, including design considerations and strategies, materials, and critical coordination items.

Event Schedule:

5:30 PM – 6 PM Check-in

6 PM – 7 PM Panel presentation

7 PM – 8 PM Happy hour, mingling with manufacturers, and viewing product displays

Learning Objectives:

• Compare contemporary below-grade waterproofing systems, and identify factors which lead to system selection.
• Identify coordination challenges associated with various trades prior to installation of below-grade waterproofing.
• Understand complexities with tying into adjacent enclosure systems.
• Summarize recent advancements in the practice of below-grade waterproofing.

Presented by:

Brian Baker - Partner, PPSI, Inc.

Brian has been working in the construction products industry since 1993, with nearly all of that time focusing on how to keep water out of the built environment. Using his experience at multiple manufacturers specializing in different technologies, he works with design and construction teams to help ensure the building envelope remains intact not only through construction, but also through the working life of the building. Brian focuses primarily on below grade waterproofing, air barriers, roofing, and expansion joints, using a systems approach to ensure all of these components work together.

Jason Flynn - Business Development Manager & Architectural Sales, RoofPro Inc.

Jason works closely with all channels within the commercial construction industry and discussions related to the manufacturing partners represented by RoofPro Inc. Having an emphasis on support of the design community, he provides assistance related to the building envelope specifications from below-grade waterproofing systems to single-ply roof assemblies. With over 20 years of experience, he brings passion and excitement to an ever changing construction landscape. He is an active member of the IIBEC Mid-Atlantic Chapter and Mid-Atlantic Roofing Contractors Association.

Kim Wilson, CSI - Manufacturer’s Representative, RoofPro, Inc.

Kim’s focus at RoofPro is Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing (CCW) for blindside and post-applied waterproofing membranes, hot and cold fluid-applied waterproofing membranes, and air & vapor barriers for new construction and restoration projects. Having fourteen years of experience with CCW, Kim is heavily involved with the pre-construction and construction phases, alongside the general contractors and subcontractors.

Vince Caserta, CSI, CDT - Director of Sales East, AVM Industries

Vince has over 40 years of experience in the building industry. Vince started in General Contracting, then to Product Distribution & Marketing, and over to Construction Products Manufacturing in Commercial, Industrial, Nuclear, and Infrastructure market segments. Prior to joining AVM, Vince was the Global Infrastructure Business Director for the former W.R. Grace & Co. Vince started his career in manufacturing with W.R. Grace in their below grade products, Plaza Deck; IRMA/PRMA waterproofing systems, Air & Vapor Barrier systems, and then promoted to a global product development role for Waterproofing Products, Concrete Admixtures, Chemical & Cementitious Grouts, and Fire Protection.

Craig Boucher - Building Envelope Northeast Regional Manager, GCP Applied Technologies (formerly Grace)

Craig has worked in the construction product industry for over 20 years and is currently focused on Building Envelope with GCP. He has coordinated and witnessed ASTM air barrier and fire resistance tests at third party labs. Craig has presented about building envelope at CSI, RCI and AIA meetings and symposiums and has been published in several building envelope and fire protection related publications. He has a BS in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Moderated by:

Julia Schofield - Consulting Engineer, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)

Julia Schofield joined the Washington, DC office of SGH in 2018.  At SGH, she has worked on a number of building enclosure projects in the Mid-Atlantic and Washington, DC metro area. Her experience includes new design consulting for a variety of owners, architects, and general contractors, rehabilitation design, and investigation of existing building enclosures.

Organized by:

AIA|DC Building Enclosure Council

The Intersection Series aims to explore the intersectionality of equity and issues confronting architects today.

The first event, Equity + Resilience, will dive into the complexities of resiliency and its many facets including community, economic, and disaster resilience. In a round-table format, we will discuss how we can build resilience into our communities via the built environment, what is being done in the region, and strategies for ensuring equitable distribution of resiliency efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the different types of resiliency.
• Explore the intersection of resiliency and equity; how can both be incorporated into design or how might resilience efforts (e.g. hardening buildings against disaster) counteract equitable design?
• Investigate how resiliency can benefit from community engagement.
• Identify different strategies that are being implemented to provide equitable resiliency in the area.

Presented by:

Lindsay Brugger

Vice President, Urban Land Institute
Lindsay Brugger is Vice President of ULI’s Urban Resilience Program. She leads strategy and project development to advance the real estate industry’s understanding of resilience, catalyze action to reduce vulnerability, and support communities in becoming more climate resilient. A licensed architect and certified passive house consultant, Lindsay has worked for over a decade at the intersection of resilience, adaptation, and the built environment to turn the negative impacts of climate change into opportunities where all can thrive.

Scott Matties

Executive VP, Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planners
Scott Matties holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan and has more than 30 years of experience in architectural design and master planning for award winning institutional, academic, commercial, and residential projects. His career has encompassed all aspects of residential design. Mr. Matties has led numerous community engagement sessions leading to approvals by jurisdictions throughout the DMV area and has extensive experience in community-based architecture and managing diverse stakeholder expectations. He has served in the AIA Northern Virginia chapter as a Board member and chaired many design award committees such as AIA NOVA, Fairfax County
Design Excellence Awards, and California Central Valley Design Awards.

Leila Finucane

President & CEO, Victory Housing
Since 2017, Leila Finucane has led Victory Housing, Inc., a regional nonprofit focused on affordable housing development and the provision of assisted living, as president and chief executive officer. Ms. Finucane, an attorney, has over 25 years of experience in real estate, affordable housing, and community development in the private, nonprofit and government sectors. Prior to Victory Housing, Ms. Finucane worked on
affordable housing and risk mitigation strategies at Capital One, as a director at NeighborWorks America, and as the appointed director of the DHCD for the District of Columbia, where she led the District’s affordable housing and community development efforts.

Jeff Blackwell

Senior Vice President, Real Estate Development, Victory Housing
Jeff Blackwell joined Victory Housing in 2005. His primary leadership responsibilities include overseeing the financing, design, construction, and lease-up of both existing buildings and new communities. Mr. Blackwell manages architects and engineers, general contractors, and consultants. In addition, he develops and/or coordinates often complex, multi-layered financing strategies to fund Victory Housing's communities. He has a background in taxable and tax-exempt bond financing as well as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, HUD Section 202 program, and other funding sources.
Prior to joining Victory Housing, Mr. Blackwell was a Vice President for Bank of America's Community Development Banking in their lending and historic tax credit equity groups. Responsibilities included providing first mortgage financing, both taxable and tax-exempt, to clients who were building affordable and mixed-income housing. As an Equity Manager, he worked with clients to fund Bank investments in historic properties. Experience also includes working for the Community Preservation and Development Corporation, a nonprofit developer of affordable and mixed-income housing, and the Housing Research Foundation, a research and technical assistance provider for HOPE VI Public Housing Authorities.
Mr. Blackwell earned a Masters of Regional Planning with a specialization in Housing and Community Development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs and Planning from Virginia Tech. He has been instrumental in several awards received by Victory Housing, including the Financial Innovation Award received from the Maryland CDA in 2018.

Rick Schneider

Principal, ISTUDIO
As a board member with the VT’s Washington Alexandria Architecture Center, Rick addresses issues on design education in the 21st century. He served as a board member with the USGBC, the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, and GreenHOME. Rick is a Virginia Tech alumnus with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Architecture. He resides with his wife, a DCPS teacher, and his three daughters in the nation’s capital. Rick is an urbanist, a musician, and avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys live music, mountain biking, and trips to National Parks.

Ryan Moody

Founding Principal, Moody Graham

Ryan Moody is a registered landscape architect and founding principal of Moody Graham, a design firm based in Washington, DC focused on Garden Design, Landscape Architecture, and Ecological Planning. Ryan holds master’s degrees in architecture and landscape architecture from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bold in design, thoughtful in approach, Moody Graham uses the power of nature and the craft of architecture to compose vibrant landscapes that promote healthy living, working, and being. Recently completed and ongoing projects by Moody Graham include the Ward 5 Short Term Family Housing Facility and Ward 8 Senior Wellness Center with the DC Department of General Services, the Rock Creek Golf Course with National Links Trust and the National Park Service, and the Southwest-Buzzard Point Flood Resilience Strategy with Ramboll and the DC Department of Energy and Environment.

Organized by:

AIA|DC Advocacy Committee

AIA|DC Resiliency & Disaster Relief Committee

Workshop (verb): present a performance of (a dramatic work), using intensive group discussion and improvisation in order to explore aspects of the production before formal staging.

Have a sticky design problem that’s posing a stumbling block on a project? Or the feeling that your usual design process isn’t helping identify all the factors needed to form an effective solution? Or maybe just the feeling that you really need some outside feedback? One of the potential pitfalls of small-firm practice is spending too much time in your own echo-chamber. To tackle this, AIA DC SFx is proposing a peer-peer design ‘workshop’ night:

Format: Four ‘volu-firms’ pin up the work of their choosing in a round-robin review for productive peer input.

Spirit: informal and supportive - to ‘workshop’ our designs like actors testing out a new script!

On Thursday, March 23, the National Building Museum will host Wonder on the Wire, a beautiful event featuring French high-wire artist, Philippe Petit. Best known for his walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, Philippe will perform on a high wire approximately sixty feet above the magnificent Great Hall, accompanied by jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen with Tal Mashiach on guitar.

The evening will begin with cocktails on the second floor of the Museum where guests will be able to view photographs and videos of some of Philippe’s past performances at landmarks around the world. Dinner will be served in the center court of the Great Hall, from which guests will then watch Philippe’s performance on the wire. All will then adjourn to the west court for dessert and the opportunity to meet Philippe.

The open discussion meetings are scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month. All current members and interested newcomers are encouraged to attend the EAC open discussions, these meetings are free and open to all, and friends and colleagues are welcome.

The AIA|DC Emerging Architects Committee (EAC) promotes education, leadership development, and community involvement among emerging architects, Associate AIA members, and architects licensed 10 years or less. We encourage the next generation of architects to start leading our community by heading committees, organizing events, participating in workshops, and attending our events.