reIMAGINE: Architecture of Transformation

Please join us for a panel discussion in conjunction with our exhibit reIMAGINE: Creating New Uses for Old Building.

This talk, moderated by Susan Piedmont-Palladino, Director of Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, features four architects, all of whom are members of firms featured in the reIMAGINE exhibition. Each speaker will give an overview of one of their firm’s projects, and talk through the design process, as well as the challenges and/or benefits they encountered while renovating an old building rather than starting anew. The speakers will also touch on some of the environmental benefits of adaptive building reuse. 


Presenters:

david haresign

David Haresign FAIA – David is a founding partner of Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS. He leads project teams and organizations with conceptual clarity, meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to design excellence. Committed to smart growth planning and preservation, David is a socially responsible architect charting a resilient, sustainable future. From the start of his career over 48 years ago, David has reimagined old buildings and places for new life with creative restoration, preservation, modernization and adaptive use.

jen

Jennie Gwin AIA - A Partner in BBB's Washington DC office, Jennie Gwin has over 20 years of experience in historic preservation and adaptive reuse, with particular expertise in federal government and historic rehabilitation tax credit projects. As a designer, Jennie celebrates the physical features that speak to historic craftsmanship and design, while pushing the limits of a building’s functionality, energy performance, and opportunities for more equitable and inclusive storytelling. Her expertise uniquely combines planning and teasing out programmatic needs, with the in-depth technical preservation knowledge needed to ensure the longevity of historic buildings. She also works closely with clients to usher projects through regulatory approval processes and find the financial solutions, such as historic tax credits, that make them possible.

Jennie has enjoyed long-term relationships with clients including the National Park Service, Architect of the Capitol, US State Department, Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, She is a board member of Docomomo DC, serves on the AIA National Historic Resources HABS Knowledge Committee, and was formerly a commissioner on the Arlington County Historic Landmark Review Board. Jennie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural History and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia, a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She joined BBB in 2014.

eric colbert

Eric Colbert AIA- Eric Colbert leads an award-winning architectural practice focused on urban revitalization, multi-family residential design, and historic preservation. After earning his professional degree in architecture in 1975 from Cornell University, where his studies included coursework in fine art and industrial design, he moved to Washington, DC, to join the prominent firm of Arthur Cotton Moore Associates. While there, he worked on the groundbreaking renovation of the Old Post Office, as well as various historic buildings in Georgetown. He went on to work for two other local firms, one specializing in inner-city housing rehabilitations and the other in museum and lighting design.

Eric founded ECA in 1982. While growing the firm, he has placed an emphasis on hiring and retaining talented professionals with strong design abilities and technical knowledge. Eric remains directly involved in all of the firm’s major projects, and personally attends the majority of project-related public hearings and community meetings. He has been an active participant in the Mayor’s Building Code Advisory Committee, several real estate associations, and the American Institute of Architects. Eric has made presentations to, and acted as a guest critic at the University of Maryland and The Catholic University of America.

chris peli

Christopher Peli, CORE architecture + design- A Principal at CORE architecture + design, Christopher Peli has led many diverse project types that range from hospitality and urban design to adaptive reuse, historic renovation, and new construction. He is a conscientious, creative team leader and mentor, who pursues a pragmatic approach to design that unites all team members, including client, contractor, owner, and landlord. He has extensive construction administration experience on complex building renovation and restaurant projects. Christopher takes on any new design challenges with ease, such as pioneering Cross-Laminated Timber structures before building code requirements were adapted in Washington, DC. He pushes the envelope by looking at obstacles of budget, tight time frames, and site conditions as tools for decision making rather than restrictions. Christopher received a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Ball State University. His exemplary work includes award-wining The Atlantis, Arizona State University Barrett & O’Connor Center, DoubleTree Lobby & Porte Cochere Renovation, minibar by José Andrés, Nobu, and Cotton & Reed.

Moderator:

susan

Susan Piedmont-Palladino- Susan Piedmont-Palladino is an architect, professor, and the Director of Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC), the urban extension of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. As Director, Susan is committed to design education that is international, interdisciplinary, and individually focused.

Since 2003 she has been a consulting curator at the National Building Museum and the author of several books, including companion books for exhibitions and initiatives she curated, such as Tools of the Imagination: drawing tools and technologies from the 19th century to the present, Green Community, Intelligent Cities, and Timber City. She served as co-curator for Justice is Beauty: The Work of MASS Design Group. Her book, How Drawings Work: A User-Friendly Theory, published by Routledge in 2019, takes a fresh and unconventional look at the languages of graphic communications. Her current research focuses on how American public spaces are shaped and re-shaped by our shifting values of openness and security.

A graduate of Virginia Tech and the College of William and Mary, she has lectured on American urbanism, sustainability, and current issues in design, to public, professional, and academic audiences in the US, Europe and Latin America. She has served on several architect selection committees and numerous design awards juries. She was awarded the inaugural Vision in Design Award from the Branch Museum of Architecture, and the Washington Architecture Foundation’s John Wiebenson Award for work dedicated to the public interest.


Learning Objectives: 

  • Understand the benefits and process of adaptive reuse as it applies to building design.
  • Gain in-depth knowledge on the design process and choices made when repurposing an old building. 
  • Identify the three benefits (environmental, economic, and social) of adaptive reuse as opposed to new construction. 
  • Illustrate examples of adaptive reuse and their positive impact on the environment.

This program is being presented in conjunction with our exhibition, reIMAGINE: Creating New Uses for Old Buildings, on view through August 29, 2024. 

COTE Committee Meeting

Please join us for COTEdc’s July committee meeting, hosted by Torti Gallas + Partners! Scott Welch from Torti Gallas will speak with us as our July “Friend of the Committee”, giving a brief talk on his experience with Passive House projects around the region.   We will also discuss planning of upcoming COTEdc events for August and the Fall.

reIMAGINE: A tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library

Please join us for a tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in conjunction with our exhibition, reIMAGINE: Creating New Uses for Old Buildings.

In 2020, the MLK library reopened its doors after undergoing a $211 million rehabilitation. The completely modernized library now includes elements such as a spectacular new, vibrant and transparent entryway, sculptured monumental staircase, a roof top terrace, and much more. Join us as a tour guide details the landmark renovation, including all of the library's new features, and all the work that went into transforming this space.

Before the tour begins, please feel free to meet up with DAC staff and other tour members for lunch in the library's beautiful new cafe.

LA.IDEA Committee Meeting

COTEdc Summer Project Tour: Adelaide Alley House with BLDUS

Please join the AIA|DC COTE group for a tour of architecture firm BLDUS' founding partner Andrew Linn’s home in Adelaide Alley on Capitol Hill. Incorporating highly sustainable materials such as sheep’s wool insulation, bamboo framing, cork and bark cladding, milk paint, and various reclaimed materials, the alley house was designed and built around health, privacy and sustainability. Andrew will describe BLDUS's process for developing alley houses and share some insights about making this a home for his family. Be sure to RSVP as limited spots are available to maintain a small group size. Light food and refreshments will be served on what we hope will be a wonderful summer evening for the COTEdc group!


Learning objectives:

  • Design and privacy strategies for alley homes.
  • The benefits of sheep’s wool insulation and considerations for use within your future projects
  • With the BAMCORE rep joining the tour, understand the benefits of utilizing the BAMCORE framing system.
  • Sourcing, design, and construction considerations while with working with reclaimed materials.

Organized by:

Committee on the Environment and BLDUS

CANstruction 2024 Team Registration

  • Date

    Wednesday, July 31 2024

  • Time

    11:59pm

CANstruction 2024 will take place at the National Building Museum Sunday, November 24. 


CANstruction 2024 Timeline:
*some dates are subject to change*

  • Registration- June 14-July 14
  • Kickoff Meeting- June 14
  • Submit your Concept- August 12th 
  • Food Order Due- September 4th
  • Turn in your Poster Information- October 4th
  • Team Visit Food Orders at CAFB- October 23rd–November 16th
  • Food Order Payment Due- October 31st
  • BUILD! Sunday, November 24th from 12:00pm to 6:00pm.
  • Jury Deliberations- November 25th
  • Collect your Award and DeCanstruction- December 2nd at noon

ABOUT Canstruction

CANstruction is a nationwide program that aims to raise awareness about hunger. In DC, CANstruction is organized by the Washington Architectural Foundation as a creative design-build competition that benefits the Capital Area Food Bank through donations of canned goods. Teams from architecture and design firms from Washington, DC use their skills to build sculptures out of cans of food which are displayed for a week in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. The nutritious shelf-stable food is donated to the CAFB for distribution to those in need after the event.

This program is generously sponsored by BluEdge, Capital Area Food Bank, DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, Giant, National Building Museum, TW Perry, and Washington Architectural Foundation.

CRAN: Designing a House with Resale in Mind (Hosted by AIA Potomac Valley)

  • Date

    Saturday, June 22 2024

  • Time

    3:00pm - 5:00pm

  • Location

    Private Residence

Join AIA/PV and Capital Area CRAN on a tour of the Great Falls custom home of Francisca and Antonio Alonso, partners in the design-build firm, AV Architects + Builders, as well as in marriage. They have been designing and building modern homes in the DMV for more than 20 years and have extensive experience in all aspects of the process to share with architects. One of their most recent projects was a home for their own family, which includes four young adult children. They designed it with the intention of living in this home until it's time for a new property and an exciting new architectural project.

Together with Theo Adamstein, formerly of Adamstein & Demetriou Architects, now Sales Associate and Vice President at TTR Sotheby's International Realty, they will present an engaging and informative program on how to design a custom house with resale in mind.

The tour will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 PM. Enjoy happy hour drinks and bites while you visit and tour the stunning home.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how decision-making for a custom home is affected, throughout the design and construction process, when viewed through the lens of future resale.
  • Understand how to prioritize decisions, when viewed through this lens, based on creating value without compromising quality and design.
  • Focus on how to guide clients in making good design, color and materials, finishes and fixture decisions, whether they intend to live in the home or are building to sell.
  • Tour the home and site to view examples of a multitude of considerations encountered by this design-builder couple in creating their current home and future “house-for-sale.”

 

Presented by:

Photo of Antonio & Francisca Alonso
Antonio Alonso
Francisca Alonso
Partners, AV Architects + Builders
Meet Francisca Alonso, CEO
Meet Antonio Alonso, VP

 

Photo of Theo Adamstein

Theo Adamstein
Sales Associate and Vice President 
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
Theo Adamstein Bio
Theo Adamstein Real Estate Brochure

Permit Streamlining Townhall

  • Date

    Thursday, August 08 2024

  • Time

    12:00pm - 1:30pm

  • Location

    Virtual

Join us to discuss the state of DC's permit Streamlining plans. DOB Director Brian Hanlon, AIA wants to hear from you to understand the problems our membership is currently experiencing. In 2018-2019 we did a lot of work with DCRA on streamlining. Time to saddle up again and to help make the system more efficient and user friendly.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify current problems in the permitting process
  • Illustrate the importance of codes
  • Identify new ideas that can help streamline the system
  • Understand why professional involvement is so valuable to this process

Mexican Cultural Institute Tour

Join LA.IDEA|DC for a guided tour of the Mexican Cultural Institute on Thursday, June 27th, from 5:00-6:00pm.

The Mexican Cultural Institute was designated as a Historic Site in DC in 2012 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Such commendation speaks to the century-long heritage of the 16th street mansion, whose murals and decorations are on display to the public. Listing in the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites provides recognition of properties significant to the historic and aesthetic heritage of the nation’s capital. The mansion was chosen not only as a premier example of the Beaux Arts architectural tradition with historic interior artwork, but also for its association with the rise of Meridian Hill as the home to foreign embassies, and its exemplary illustration of the City Beautiful Movement, which sought to promote beautiful architecture beyond Washington’s monumental core.

The Mexican Cultural Institute is committed to enriching the relationship between Mexico and the United States by sharing Mexico’s vibrant cultural past and present with the local community. Since its establishment in 1990, the Institute has succeeded in presenting diverse, ongoing cultural programs and has become a thriving artistic center in the heart of Washington. Over the past three decades, the Institute has developed cultural programming in partnership with many institutions in the nation’s capital including the Smithsonian Institution, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Gallery of Art, the Library of Congress, among others.

Presented by:
Victor Salinas, Public Relations at the Mexican Cultural Institute of the Embassy of Mexico in the USA.
 
Organized by:
AIA|DC LA.IDEA Committee

Arts & Architecture 2025: Open Call for Artwork

  • Date

    Sunday, September 22 2024

  • Time

    11:59pm

Have your work featured in an exhibition at DAC!

Notification of Acceptance/Rejection of Entries: October 31, 2024


The District Architecture Center is seeking architecture-themed and design-themed artwork by artists, architects, and designers (including students) for inclusion in our ARTS + ARCHITECTURE 2025 exhibit. Each work of art accepted into the exhibition will earn artists the chance to be exhibited at DAC, and to have a public forum through which to sell their art (if chosen to do so).


The ARTS + ARCHITECTURE 2025 exhibition will be on display at the District Architecture Center from January 2025 to April 2025. If the artist so chooses, artwork can be marked for sale by DAC and proceeds will go 100% to the artist themselves.


DAC will promote artists included in the exhibition through media outreach, our website, and targeted email and social media campaigns to all of our followers. We are open to a wide interpretation of what architecture-themed and design-themed artwork is, so if you think your work fits those descriptions in any way, we encourage you to submit 1-6 works for consideration (there is no entry fee)! 


We are open to submissions in all mediums, but works must fit one of the following categories:


● 2D Artwork: ​​Prints, Paintings, Drawings, Collages, etc.
● 3D Artwork: ​​Sculptures, Light Fixtures, Ceramics, Architecture Models, etc.
● Digital Artwork: ​​Videos, Sound Installations, Music Albums, etc.


IMPORTANT DATES


Entry Form Due (w/pdf, doc, docx, mp3, jpg, jpeg, or png) image of each work: September 22, 2024
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection of Entries: October 31, 2024
Delivery of Artwork to District Architecture Center: By January 9, 2025
Hanging of show: Week of January 13, 2025
Exhibition: January 29 - April 17, 2025
Opening Reception: January 29, 2025
Pickup art at District Architecture Center: By April 24, 2025


SUBMISSION DETAILS


You will be asked to agree to the following statement when submitting images for consideration:
● Participants may submit up to 6 images of works of art for consideration, one image per piece. At least 1 piece per selected artist will be included in the exhibition.
● Each piece of art must be signed + dated somewhere on its surface (front, back, top, bottom, inside, outside)
● Prints will only be accepted in digital format
● 2D artwork must be framed
● If submitting multiple works of art as a series, please also submit a sketch of how the artwork should be displayed (relative location, order, etc.)
● Display space is limited; artwork will be selected from submitted images by the District Architecture Center
● Images of artwork that are not received by September 22, 2024 via the submission link will not be considered for inclusion in the exhibition
● Images you submit may be used by the District Architecture Center in promotion of this exhibition or future exhibitions
● Artwork not delivered to DAC by January 9, 2024 will not be included in the exhibition.


The Opening Reception will take place on January 29, 2025, from 6-8 pm at the District Architecture Center. You are encouraged to attend but are not required.