As part of Architecture Month, join DAC for a special “Building of the Day” tour of a remarkable O Street artist’s studio—an intimate architectural gem designed by local firm Gronning Architects.

Tucked quietly within the Blagden Alley–Naylor Court Historic District, this project is easy to miss and impossible to forget. Inserted into a layered and tightly scaled urban fabric, the studio unfolds as a carefully composed sequence of light, texture, and proportion. What appears modest from the alley reveals itself as a meticulously crafted retreat for making and reflection.

Designed as both workspace and sanctuary, the studio demonstrates how contemporary architecture can sit confidently within a historic context through restraint, precision, and material clarity. Every move is deliberate: openings are strategically placed, details are finely resolved, and natural light is shaped to support the rhythms of artistic production.

This tour offers a rare opportunity to step inside a space that typically remains private—an exploration of how small-scale architecture can achieve powerful impact. Join us to experience this jewel box firsthand and hear about the design decisions, constraints, and creative ambitions that brought it to life.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine the design strategies employed in the adaptive reuse of the existing structure to balance historic preservation, building performance, and contemporary architectural expression, including improvements to structural integrity, energy performance, and occupant safety.
• Assess strategies for embedding a contemporary “jewel box” intervention sensitively within an existing urban context, with attention to zoning constraints, life safety requirements, fire separation, and compatibility with surrounding historic fabric.
• Evaluate the role of natural light, apertures, and framed views in reinforcing spatial hierarchy and atmosphere, and analyze how daylighting strategies contribute to occupant health, visual comfort, and energy efficiency.
• Analyze how a restrained material palette and minimal detailing can shape spatial clarity and user experience within a compact studio environment, while supporting durability, indoor environmental quality, and long-term occupant welfare.

Presented by:

Eric Gronning, AIA
Founding Principal
Gronning Architects 

Maggie Dunlap, Assoc. AIA, LEED
Project Manager
Gronning Architects

Russell Katz
Owner

_{Photo by © Edward Caruso Photography}

Join us during Architecture Month for an exclusive tour of the newly completed amenity expansion at 1200 19th Street NW, a dynamic transformation in the heart of Washington, DC. This project redefines what a workplace can be, reshaping the traditional office experience into something far more flexible, social, and inspiring.

On this guided tour, you will explore how the design team reimagined both interior and exterior spaces to support the full rhythm of the workday—from focused productivity and collaborative meetings to relaxation and informal connection. Drawing from hospitality principles, the expansion introduces warm materials, layered lighting, and thoughtfully scaled gathering areas that feel more like a boutique hotel than a conventional office building.

Participants will see firsthand how strategic interventions can reposition an existing property to meet evolving tenant expectations, blending wellness, flexibility, and community into a cohesive architectural experience. The result is not just an amenity upgrade, but a forward-looking model for the future of workplace design in downtown Washington.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify design strategies for creating flexible, multi-use interior amenity spaces—such as lounges, boardrooms, and event support spaces—within existing commercial buildings, with attention to occupant load, egress, accessibility, fire protection, and indoor environmental quality.
• Explain the technical, structural, and code considerations involved in designing occupiable rooftop environments, including structural loading, fall protection, life safety systems, accessibility, and weather protection to ensure occupant health, safety, and welfare.
• Summarize how Washington, DC’s Affordable Housing Amendment impacts zoning, permitting, and design decisions, using the amenity expansion at 1200 19th Street NW as a case study, and evaluate how regulatory frameworks influence building performance, occupant safety, and equitable development outcomes.
• Assess how hospitality-inspired design elements—including materials, lighting, furnishings, and programming—can support long-term adaptability, user comfort, accessibility, and healthy interior environments for varied tenant uses.

Presented by:

Christopher Mayor, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, NCIDQ
Senior Principal
SmithGroup

Eva Kodouskova, AIA, NCIDQ
Architect
SmithGroup

_{Photo by Cohabs}

Shaw 1000 is part of an evolving model of urban living. One of seven co-living projects in Washington, D.C. designed by Square 134 Architects for Cohabs, a Belgium-based platform offering fully furnished shared housing in major cities worldwide, the project reflects a new approach to density, community, and adaptability.

Located within the Shaw Historic District and currently under construction, Shaw 1000 transforms a stately single-family home into a 10-bedroom shared residence. Rather than subdividing the house into isolated units, the design reimagines it as an intentional living community—balancing private bedrooms with generous communal kitchens, lounges, and gathering spaces that encourage connection.

The project carefully navigates the character and constraints of the historic district while introducing contemporary amenities and infrastructure to support modern co-living. The result is a layered space where historic fabric and new interventions coexist, creating housing that is flexible, social, and rooted in its neighborhood context.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and describe what a co-living residential project is, including how this housing model addresses density, life safety, accessibility, and shared amenity requirements that impact occupant health, safety, and welfare.
• Articulate the building and zoning code parameters governing co-living projects within the District of Columbia, including considerations related to egress, fire protection, occupancy classification, light and air, and habitability standards.
• Develop a deeper understanding of the social and environmental advantages of co-living as a housing type, including its potential to support housing affordability, reduce per-capita resource consumption, and promote community well-being.
• Explain what the team learned about the programmatic and spatial preferences of residents in the District of Columbia compared to residents of other major national and international cities, and how these preferences influence design decisions affecting safety, comfort, and quality of life.

Presented by: 

Ronald Schneck, Jr. AIA, NCARB
Principal 
Square 134 Architects PC

_{Photo by Paul Burk Photography}

Momentous Sports Medicine reimagines what a physical therapy and sports performance practice can be. Blending the precision of a medical office with the energy of a training facility and the calm of a spa, the space reflects the practice’s core philosophy: the “Momentous Dynamic.” This approach begins with a head-to-toe assessment of functional movement, identifying imbalances and unlocking each client’s full physical potential. The design takes its cue from that same rigor, transforming the existing structure through careful analysis and purposeful intervention.

Housed in a former alley-facing carriage house and courtyard, the space retains three original skylights that draw daylight deep into the interior. Our study of the site revealed three critical drivers—flow, light, and visibility—and the design responds with clarity and confidence. Two defining elements shape the experience: a sculpted gold ceiling plane and a finely crafted wood-paneled core.

The articulated gold ceiling sweeps overhead, guiding circulation and pulling clients inward from the entry. It conceals mechanical systems, integrates lighting, and amplifies daylight from the skylights, creating a luminous, elevated training environment. Subtly infused with the brand’s signature gold, the ceiling becomes both wayfinding device and identity marker.

At the center, a warm wood-wrapped volume compresses private functions—staff office, restroom, shower, and recovery room—allowing the public zones to expand around it. Reception and training areas unfold with clarity and purpose. The workout floor, finished in rubber and turf, occupies the footprint of the former courtyard, transforming what was once exterior void into a high-performance interior arena.

Tucked within the vibrant energy of Blagden Alley’s restaurants, bars, and cafés, the entrance now radiates outward at night. A cut-metal sign band draws visitors in and seamlessly connects to the undulating gold ceiling beyond, making the brand visible and unmistakable. With no true “back” of house, typical alley conditions—trash, equipment, and utilities—are carefully concealed within a loggia behind angled doors. This functional edge is transformed into a design feature, reinforcing the tunnel-like procession beneath the glowing ceiling and turning constraint into character.

The result is a space that moves with intention—precise, dynamic, and unmistakably Momentous.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how the use of a clear architectural move can organize program, improve wayfinding and occupant experience, and reinforce brand identity while working within a tight budget, supporting occupant welfare and efficient building performance.
• Understand how local grants, code compliance, and strategic design decisions can support small businesses while promoting safe, healthy, and accessible environments for occupants and the community.
• Assess design solutions for challenging urban contexts, such as alley properties with no traditional front and back, including strategies for life safety, service access, visibility, and pedestrian safety.
• Identify the programmatic and spatial requirements of the sports medicine industry, including considerations for accessibility.

Presented by:

Dr. Tim Vidale, PT, DPT, MBA, CSOMT
Owner
Momentous Sports Medicine

Mark Lawrence, AIA
Architect
EL Studio

The Parks at Walter Reed is a remarkable transformation story, turning a once-closed, 66-acre military hospital campus into a vibrant, welcoming neighborhood. For decades, this historic site sat behind fences, disconnected from the surrounding community. Today, it stands as a model for inclusive, mixed-income and mixed-use development.

Shaped through a decade-long collaboration between the city, local residents, and a master developer, the vision for the site carefully balances past and future. Historic buildings and open spaces have been thoughtfully restored and adaptively reused, preserving the character and legacy of the campus. Alongside them, more than 2,600 new homes, 20% of which are affordable, create a diverse and dynamic residential community.

The historic street grid has been reconnected, opening the site to its neighbors and stitching it back into the fabric of the city. Essential amenities, including a grocery store, day care, and playground, bring everyday convenience and energy to the neighborhood. What was once an isolated institutional campus is now a lively, connected community designed for people of all ages and incomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate how site planning, connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods, transit access, and the design of public spaces support public health, safety, and community welfare.
• Analyze how diverse housing types within a dense site address accessibility, aging in place, life safety, and equitable community development.
• Analyze how community engagement informed design decisions affecting historic preservation, open space, and neighborhood health, safety, and welfare.
• Evaluate how sustainable design strategies, including green roofs and solar panels, contribute to environmental performance, occupant health, and long-term community resilience.

Presented by:

Sarah Alexander, AIA 
Principal
Torti Gallas + Partners

Julian Goldman, AIA 
Associate Principal
Torti Gallas + Partner

Please join us to celebrate the beginning of Architecture Month 2026, a month-long, citywide celebration of the buildings and spaces that shape our city, the creative minds who bring them to life, and the stories they tell.

Kick off the month with an evening at President Lincoln's Cottage. Organized in collaboration with the Cottage’s staff, this celebration will include a special reception, after-hours access to the store and exhibition, and behind-the-scenes tours of the cottage itself. Drinks and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The tour, presented by President Lincoln's Cottage's Director of Preservation Jeffrey Larry and Seth Young 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:

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.

Seth Young, Historic Buildings and Grounds Technician- Seth Young joined President Lincoln’s Cottage as the Historic Buildings and Grounds Technician in May of 2023. He comes from a background in natural resources and has previously worked for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Montana Conservation Corps, and the Land Trust of Virginia. Most recently, he completed stream restoration projects for ClearWater Conservancy in central Pennsylvania. Seth holds a BS in Environmental Science from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

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

This program is part of President Lincoln’s Cottage's celebration for America’s 250th Anniversary. President Lincoln’s Cottage works to preserve this place to connect people to the true spirit of the Lincolns, build empathy, and inspire them to act upon their own ideas for social justice. As we commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary, we are dedicated to preserving this place where we will continue to lift up the brave ideas of all who are taking on Lincoln’s “unfinished work” in pursuit of a more perfect union.

Are you ready to take your architecture career to the next level? Join us for the Emerging Professional Resume & Portfolio Workshop on Thursday, March 26th, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the District Architecture Center.

This engaging event is designed to help young architects polish their resumes and portfolios, stand out in the job market, and gain valuable insights from experienced professionals. The evening will feature an icebreaker and meet-and-greet activity, followed by a portfolio review session. The group of mentors (about 20 mentors) will be assigned to a couple of mentees at a table, look through their work, and offer feedback. Whether you're actively job hunting or simply looking to refine your materials, this workshop is the perfect opportunity to prepare for success. Bring your resume and/or portfolio, no matter its stage of completion, and leave with actionable feedback. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow!

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the elements of a successful resume and portfolio.
• Review and discuss how to create a resume that is more likely to catch employers' attention.
• Gain insights into effective portfolio presentations during an interview.
• Explore how resumes and portfolios are reviewed to identify essential skills for success in the field.

Presented by Emerging Architects Committee, sponsored by Studios, Torti Gallas + Partners, DLR Group

All current members and interested newcomers are encouraged to attend the EAC open discussions, these meetings are free and open to all. Friends and colleagues are welcome to join. The EAC has four major objectives: ADVOCATE for emerging architects, PROVOKE and talk about the future of the profession, MENTOR the next generation of architects, and perform OUTREACH to other AIA members, associated disciplines, and the community.

Please join AIA|DC's Women in Architecture and Design for our monthly meeting. We will be joined by AIA|NY's Women in Architecture and Design.

Contact aiadcwia@gmail.com for virtual link.

Join AIA|DC's Fellows Public Program Committee for a roundtable panel discussion with the Master Plan Architect, the City of Washington, and the Stadium Architects to discuss the processes and challenges associated with redeveloping RFK Stadium into a new mixed-use neighborhood that will include a new stadium for the Washington Commanders. 

This project is in its early stages; the evening's focus will be on the processes that have brought us to today and on how this team will work together going forward. This is much more than a new stadium; it's a whole new mixed-use neighborhood.

Presented by:

Matt Bell, FAIA, Perkins Eastman. Master Plan Architect
Gilles Stucker, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Government of the District of Columbia, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development
Brian Hanlon, AIA, Director DC Department of Buildings, Project Executive
Mike Drye, AIA, Office Director & Business Development Director, Sports + Partner, HKS
Andy VanHorn, Head of Real Estate, Washington Commanders

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn how the planning process starts and evolves around a large urban stadium district development
• Participants will learn about the civic goals and challenges that a large urban redevelopment creates
• Participants will learn how an urban stadium project is awarded and what the initial design process requires
• Participants will learn how a project team for an urban stadium and surrounding areas is formed and how they work together