District Architecture Center

TASTE + TRACE AANHPI Diaspora in Architecture ✨ JUST ONE WEEK AWAY ✨ Get ready for an unforgettable evening of culture, conversation, community, architecture — and FOOD. 🌏🏛️🍜✨ Join DCNOMA at the District Architecture Center as we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month through an immersive experience highlighting the voices, stories, creativity, and cultural influence shaping the future of architecture and design. This special evening will bring together architects, designers, creatives, students, and allied professionals for meaningful dialogue, networking, cultural performances, and an incredible culinary experience inspired by flavors across Asia and the Pacific Islands. FEATURED PANELISTS: ✨ Eleanor Choi, AIA, LEED AP BD-C — Principal | SmithGroup DC Office ✨ Ahmed Zaman, AIA — Managing Director | ZDS Architecture & Interiors ✨ Brittney Sooksengdao, AIA, NOMA, WELL AP — Associate | Gensler DC Office 📅 Thursday, May 28th ⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM 📍 District Architecture Center 🌺 EXPERIENCE CULTURE THROUGH FOOD 🌺 We’re bringing together flavors from across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Pacific Island cultures for attendees to experience throughout the evening, including: 🥢 Korean Glass Noodles + Kimchi 🥟 Crispy Chive Dumplings 🥬 Lao Spring Rolls 🍗 Laab Chicken 🥔 Indian Samosas 🍙 Hawaiian Spam Musubi 🧋 Strawberry Matcha, Mango Yuzu, and Vanilla Taro Boba Drinks The evening will also feature: ✨ Cultural performances by the Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. ✨ Networking with professionals across architecture, design, and allied industries ✨ Conversations centered on identity, representation, and equity within the built environment ✨ Pending CEU Credit Available 🎟️ TICKETS $10 — NOMA & AIA Members (all chapters!) $20 — Non-Members AIA members please reach out to your AIA chapter leaders for the promo code AIA Northern Virginia AIA Baltimore AIA Potomac Valley Register Here: https://lnkd.in/ejtc-8jA Come celebrate culture, creativity, food, and the diverse voices shaping the future of design. 🌏✨

TASTE + TRACE AANHPI Diaspora in Architecture Join DCNOMA at the District Architecture Center for an unforgettable evening celebrating culture, creativity, food, and the powerful voices shaping the future of architecture and design. 🌏🏛️✨ In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re proud to introduce the panelists leading this important conversation on representation, identity, and equity in architecture and design: Eleanor Choi, AIA, LEED AP BD-C Principal | SmithGroup DC Office Ahmed Zaman, AIA Managing Director | ZDS Architecture & Interiors Brittney Sooksengdao, AIA, NOMA, WELL AP Associate | Gensler DC office These three incredible voices will explore how heritage and lived experience shape our profession — and what it takes to build a more equitable future in design. Thursday, May 28th | 6:00–8:30PM 📍 District Architecture Center Also expect an evening featuring: 1. Cultural performances by the Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. 2. Delicious food inspired by cultures across Asia, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands 3. Networking with professionals across architecture, design, and allied industries Pending CEU Credit available. TICKETS $10 — NOMA & AIA Members $20 — Non-Members Register Now: https://lnkd.in/ejtc-8jA

What happens when 8 curious, creative girls meet 8 incredible women who've built careers in architecture, engineering, and construction? Magic. On Saturday, April 25th, the Design Like a Girl program hosted its latest workshop with the theme “Memorials & Sacred Spaces.” The girls explored the power of design to honor, heal, and inspire, with a field trip to the iconic U.S. Navy Memorial right here in Washington, DC. From field trip to sketchbook to model to final presentation — each girl brought her own vision to life, guided every step of the way by a female mentor who's been exactly where she's standing. That's what Design Like a Girl is all about. Founded in 2016 in Washington DC, DLAG pairs girls ages 11–14 with professional women in architecture and related STEM fields — not just to teach design skills, but to show them who they can become. Thank you to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities whose generous grant supports this program and our mentors: Joanna Schmickel & Fijoy Fisiy - CGS Architects Leejung Hong - Winstanley Architects & Planners Linda Binsted - AECOM Linda Potrafke - FOX Architects Katie Hummelt- BBB Architects Gozde Yilidrim - HOK #WAF #DesignLikeAGirl #WomenInArchitecture #DCYouth #WomenInSTEAM #FutureArchitects

TASTE + TRACE AANHPI Diaspora in Architecture Join DCNOMA at the District Architecture Center for an unforgettable evening celebrating culture, creativity, food, and the powerful voices shaping the future of architecture and design. 🌏🏛️✨ In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re proud to introduce the panelists leading this important conversation on representation, identity, and equity in architecture and design: Eleanor Choi, AIA, LEED AP BD-C Principal | SmithGroup DC Office Ahmed Zaman, AIA Managing Director | ZDS Architecture & Interiors Brittney Sooksengdao, AIA, NOMA, WELL AP Associate | Gensler DC office These three incredible voices will explore how heritage and lived experience shape our profession — and what it takes to build a more equitable future in design. Thursday, May 28th | 6:00–8:30PM 📍 District Architecture Center Also expect an evening featuring: 1. Cultural performances by the Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. 2. Delicious food inspired by cultures across Asia, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands 3. Networking with professionals across architecture, design, and allied industries Pending CEU Credit available. TICKETS $10 — NOMA & AIA Members $20 — Non-Members Register Now: https://lnkd.in/ejtc-8jA

One week left! DC Residential Architects, remember to submit your designs by Monday, May 18, 2026! For 43, years, the AIA|DC + The Washingtonian Magazine Residential Design Awards have recognized outstanding work from local residential architects. Most winning projects are featured in an issue of The Washingtonian as well as ArchitectureDC magazine. Every scale of residential work welcome in five categories: • General • Small Projects (budgets under $300K) • Kitchen/Bath • Details • Multifamily Housing Deadline: May 18, 2026, at 4:00 PM See submission guidelines at the Events and Exhibition link in bio #AIADC #WashingtonianDesignAwards #ResidentialArchitecture #ArchitectureDC #DesignExcellence #WashingtonianMagazine Photos: Source: The Washingtonian Magazine: "Introducing the 2025 Residential Design Award Winners" Architects: Robert M. Gurney | Wouter Boer | Cunningham Quill | Colleen Healey | CookFox Architects and Torti Gallas + Partners | Cook Architecture Photographers: Anice Hoachlander | Aaron Adams | Allen Russ | Jennifer Hughes | Sam Kittner & JBG Smith | Ray Cavicchio & JBG Smith | John Cole.

ADVOCACY UPDATE We are excited to announce the passage of two important pieces of legislation that will positively impact the DC architecture profession thanks to the contributions by our AIA|DC members: B26-0173, the Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025 was unanimously approved by the DC Council in March, signed by the mayor in April, and is currently under Congressional Review (the last step in DC legislation becoming law). This law provides limited civil liability protection to licensed architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors who voluntarily assist with life-threatening, built-environment emergencies in DC. It is modeled after similar laws in 41 other US states and territories. With these protections, AIA|DC extends the reach of the American Institute of Architects’ Disaster Assistance Program, allowing members to contribute their knowledge and skills to assess the safety of structures after disasters occur, helping local jurisdictions more quickly determine the scope of damage, and get homeowners and businesses back into habitable properties sooner. B26-0227 — One Front Door Act of 2025 was unanimously approved earlier this month by the DC Council and has advanced to the mayor for her signature. This law amends the District's building code to allow single-staircase, multi-family residential buildings up to six stories with no more than four units per floor. The law is one of a number of state and local efforts to incentivize the building of more housing by allowing for greater housing density (especially on small, tight sites), encouraging small-scale, neighborhood-compatible development, improving spatial efficiencies and accessibility, supporting family-sized units, and ultimately leading to the creation of more humane, better designed units. This spring, AIA|DC held our Inaugural City Hall Day, bringing architects to the Wilson Building for a day of meetings with Councilmembers and legislative staff to advocate for issues and legislation that will both improve the practice of architecture in DC and provide a positive impact to our community. Our advocacy successes are the direct result of efforts by the AIA|DC members who volunteered their time, provided research and expertise, testified at hearings, and met with legislators. Learn more and get involved here: https://lnkd.in/ehnZjRU4 ADVANCING DESIGN – SHAPING POLICY – SERVING COMMUNITIES

ADVOCACY UPDATE We are excited to announce the passage of two important pieces of legislation that will positively impact the DC architecture profession thanks to the contributions by our AIA|DC members: B26-0173, the Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025 was unanimously approved by the DC Council in March, signed by the mayor in April, and is currently under Congressional Review (the last step in DC legislation becoming law). This law provides limited civil liability protection to licensed architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors who voluntarily assist with life-threatening, built-environment emergencies in DC. It is modeled after similar laws in 41 other US states and territories. With these protections, AIA|DC extends the reach of the American Institute of Architects’ Disaster Assistance Program, allowing members to contribute their knowledge and skills to assess the safety of structures after disasters occur, helping local jurisdictions more quickly determine the scope of damage, and get homeowners and businesses back into habitable properties sooner. B26-0227 — One Front Door Act of 2025 was unanimously approved earlier this month by the DC Council and has advanced to the mayor for her signature. This law amends the District's building code to allow single-staircase, multi-family residential buildings up to six stories with no more than four units per floor. The law is one of a number of state and local efforts to incentivize the building of more housing by allowing for greater housing density (especially on small, tight sites), encouraging small-scale, neighborhood-compatible development, improving spatial efficiencies and accessibility, supporting family-sized units, and ultimately leading to the creation of more humane, better designed units. This spring, AIA|DC held our Inaugural City Hall Day, bringing architects to the Wilson Building for a day of meetings with Councilmembers and legislative staff to advocate for issues and legislation that will both improve the practice of architecture in DC and provide a positive impact to our community. Our advocacy successes are the direct result of efforts by the AIA|DC members who volunteered their time, provided research and expertise, testified at hearings, and met with legislators. Learn more and get involved here: https://lnkd.in/ehnZjRU4 ADVANCING DESIGN – SHAPING POLICY – SERVING COMMUNITIES

Calling Architects, Design, and Build professionals. AIA|DC Committees are offering Education and Networking Opportunities. May 13 – BEC Roof Systems: The Fifth Façade, presented by David S. Finley, Samuel Roberts, and Duncan Monroe May 21 - LA.IDEA Construction Tour led by Emotive Architecture and JAP Construction June 3 – Women in Architecture (WiA)’s monthly meeting Learn more at the Events and Exhibition Link in Bio #AIADC #AIACommittees #DCArchitects #Networking

Spring break looked a little different for 6 DC high schoolers this year. This year's Design in Action program gave 6 DCPS 11th and 12th graders an immersive look inside the architecture profession. They got the chance to shadow architects at HKS Architects, KTGY, and Stantec across design sessions, client meetings, construction site visits, and more. WAF’s Design in Action goal is to connect DC high schoolers with creativity, mentorship, and professional networks that can shape an entire career. #WAF #DACKids #FutureArchitects #DCPS #DCYouth

Two outstanding Lunchtime Learning sessions are coming up — mark your calendars! May 22, 2026: Design Solutions for Restroom Privacy, presented by Monica King, senior level materials consultant A large proportion of today’s restroom users view privacy as a key amenity. As all-gender restrooms rise in popularity, privacy has taken a key role in restroom design. There are several ways to achieve privacy, but toilet partition design offers a balance of practicality and privacy that other solutions cannot. Identifying what different partition systems offer can help prioritize what level of privacy will work best with your client’s needs, the aesthetics and the budget. This session will take you through the key factors of each while giving an understanding of what is needed to achieve each level of privacy. Register here: https://buff.ly/DZ6Ui15 June 19, 2026. High Density Fiber Cement Panels – Architectural Façade Materials, presented by Tom Adams, EQUITONE. 1 LU|HSW From material history to real-world installation, Adams will walk through the design possibilities, performance characteristics, and sustainability benefits of high-density fiber cement panels in ventilated rainscreen systems — ideal for architects specifying innovative façade solutions. Register here: https://buff.ly/NkUknLg #AIADC #ArchitectureDC #ContinuingEducation #LunchtimeLearning