_{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

This session focuses on the Building Enclosure Commissioning requirements of the 2017 Washington, DC, Energy Conservation Code, providing architects with a structured framework for integrating BECx requirements within the Design Phase and Construction Administration project delivery.

The session begins with a review of current code requirements and testing protocols essential to compliance, highlighting their overlap with LEED v4.1 and v5 credits. Presenters will then demonstrate how a coordinated Test Summary Matrix document can be used to align enclosure performance tests with project schedules and responsibilities, thereby coordinating pre-construction mobilization.The course also introduces digital tools that streamline management of test data, checklists, and submittals, enhancing transparency between design teams, contractors, and commissioning providers.Through lessons learned from local case studies, attendees will see how embedding BECx into the design team’s routine Construction Administration improves risk management, documentation quality, and client satisfaction.

Time: 6pm-8pm (6-7 presentation, 7-8 networking hour)

We will provide food/drinks for the event.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) supports project teams to fulfill compliance requirements under the 2017 D.C. Energy conservation code.
• Identify how the BECx process fulfills LEED v4.1 and v5 commissioning prerequisites and credits.
• Outline how the commissioning process documentation standards such as Test Summary Matrix aid in pre-construction coordination and construction-phase monitoring and verification of enclosure testing fulfillment.
• Explain how digital tools track key commissioning performance indicators and how their integration into construction administration workflows improves quality assurance and team accountability.

Presented By:

John David Wagner, AIA, BECxP, CxA+BE

John Wagner is a licensed architect with more than a decade of experience advancing sustainable design in higher education, civic and cultural, and technology sectors. At Baumann Consulting, he leads the integration of resilient, high-performance design strategies into building enclosure consulting, helping project teams move beyond AIA 2030 Commitment targets toward enduring climate solutions in the built environment.
Before joining Baumann, John practiced with Bruner/Cott Architects, where he led adaptive reuse projects, and with Ellenzweig Architects, focusing on complex laboratory and life science facilities. Earlier in his career, he earned licensure while at Ann Beha (now Annum) Architects, where he contributed to the renovation and modernization of historic structures throughout New England. His past clients include MIT, Harvard University, Yale University, and Moderna, and he is currently leading Baumann’s enclosure commissioning of the James R. Thompson Center renovation in downtown Chicago, the future home of Google’s new Midwest headquarters.

Join us for the opening of our latest exhibition, Ahead of the Curve.

Curated by Virginia Tech architectural historian Elizabeth Keslacy, PhD, Ahead of the Curve asks, why did California become such an important center of women’s architectural practice? Beyond its size, its sunshine, and its booming economy, the exhibition speculates that as an early adopter of legislation to expand women’s rights and freedoms, California uniquely enabled female architects to achieve professional success. Beginning with statehood in 1850 and continuing to the present day, California bolstered women’s autonomy by enabling suffrage, ensuring reproductive freedom, and empowering women’s financial self-determination--and by criminalizing discrimination in employment and housing.

The exhibition pairs a timeline of women’s freedom with ten profiles of women who exemplify the diversity of architectural practice in the 20th century and whose work is collected in The International Archive of Women in Architecture [IAWA].  On the occasion of the International Archive of Women in Architecture’s 40th anniversary, this exhibition displays the work of ten Californian architects’ work held the IAWA, highlighting the diversity of careers and expertise women achieved in practice throughout the twentieth century. Pairing the professional and the political, we ask visitors to consider what conditions have enabled their own professional success. What further forms of freedom or justice might we need for true equality in the future?

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

In recent years, Pickleball has emerged as a significant force in the recreational sports category, captivating a wide range of enthusiasts and growing rapidly in popularity. However, the surge in interest has far outpaced the availability of dedicated facilities, prompting players to seek out unconventional venues and unusual times to play. This trend has led to games being held in spaces not originally intended for sports, and the distinctive sound produced during play has become a notable source of irritation for nearby residents and occupants, often sparking complaints and tensions in communities where matches take place.

Designing pickleball courts requires balancing accessibility with effective noise control. Planners must identify suitable locations while implementing strategies such as distance, barriers, and other mitigation measures to keep sound levels manageable.

This presentation will explore what makes pickleball noise distinctive, why it often irritates nearby residents, and practical approaches for reducing its impact through thoughtful design.

Presented By:

Scott Benson Harvey

President, Chief Engineer, Owner of Phoenix Noise & Vibration, LLC since October 2004 overseeing and managing 5 engineers, CADD manager, and manager of business operations. Vice President of Environmental Division of Polysonics Corporation from 1990 until 2004. For the five years prior to 1990, worked with Bruel & Kjaer to provide engineering support in the marketing of instrumentation for sound and vibration analysis.

Scott Harvey, founder and president of Phoenix Noise & Vibration, has been working in the field of acoustics for 40 years. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering he first worked with Bruel & Kjaer instruments, manufacturer of precision instrumentation for measuring sound and vibration. Since 1990, he has been devoted to the field of acoustical engineering as it applies to the building industry. He is Board Certified by the Institute of Noise Control Engineers, a licensed professional engineer in both Maryland and Virginia, and holds memberships with the Acoustical Society of America, the National Council of Acoustical Consultants, and the National and Maryland Societies of Professional Engineers

Learning Objectives:

• Understand noise measurement basics
• Realize the uniqueness of pickleball noise
• Mitigate pickleball noise
• Designate proper location for pickball courts

HSW Justification:

Quiet environments lend to better health, communication, sleep, and concentration. Designing spaces that ensure a low background noise level creates spaces that maintain the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants.