AIA Northern Virginia celebrated Architecture Month during April and we’re happy to report that it was very successful*, with several sold out events. Our committees led a full slate of programs, setting up design tours, sketching workshops, and lectures to engage the many audiences we serve.

Our annual celebration of all things Architecture in Northern Virginia kicked off with an exclusive tour of the Capital One Headquarters in Tysons Corner led by the Committee on the Environment (COTE) and co-sponsored by Whiting-Turner and HITT. The tour showcased the structure’s high-performance architecture and integrated sustainability. Following the tour participants enjoyed a happy hour mixer held in the Starr Hill Biergarten located in the Perch.

The Schools Connections Committee (SCC) held a panel discussion at the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) on Pathways to Licensure, designed to support and inform architectural professionals from all backgrounds on the various ways licensure can be achieved, including non-traditional routes and best practices for balancing life, work, and the pursuit of licensure. Similarly, the Young Architects Forum (YAF) hosted Scott Jancy as a featured guest for their ongoing Dinner with an Architect series. Jancy shared how his architectural journey led him to found his own career development and leadership consultancy business.

Women in Architecture (WIA) collaborated with Urban Sketchers DC to host a walking tour and sketching workshop in Old Town Alexandria, covering points of interest from the Lloyd House and Gardens, to the Hollensbury Spite House, and ending at the Alexandria Marina for a sketch and skill share.

WIA and the Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) also co-led a tour of  Alexandria City Public Schools new Minnie Howard Campus, which replaced an aging ninth-grade center school, and now serves 1600 students through several innovative environments connected by the Creative Commons.

We are grateful to our many committees, sponsors, and educational partners for helping make Architecture Month 2025 one of our most active so far! The purpose of these activities is to demonstrate architecture’s influence in Northern Virginia and connect our work as design professionals to the impact we have within our communities. As we wrap up Architecture Month, we’d like to continue expanding our reach by welcoming more participation from the public, local partners, and architecture enthusiasts. If you have suggestions or would like to get involved in one of our many committees, please email the Chapter at [email protected] or fill out the interest form at https://aianova.org/interest-form/.

*(Alas, no one took us up on the Scavenger Hunt – maybe next year!)