The Young Architects Forum (YAF) recently hosted its first ever Pecha Kucha Night and it was a total success! For those not familiar with the concept of Pecha Kucha, here is a little background. Pecha Kucha is Japanese for “chit-chat” and is a presentation format designed to keep ideas concise and engaging.  The format consists of a group of designers...

By Taylor T. Dolan, Esq. and Daniel M. Eggleston, Esq..Lee/Shoemaker PLLC Most commercial construction projects involve financing arrangements between the owner and their lender, typically in the form of a construction loan or revolving loan. Although design professionals often know little about their clients’ financial arrangements, design firms play a crucial role in a lender’s decision to approve funding through...

Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, ArchitectPotomac, MD Photographs ©  Anice Hoachlander Project Partners: Timberworks Construction and CHLA Campion/Hruby Located in Potomac, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC, this residence stands apart from the developer driven, over-sized traditional and pseudo-traditional houses found in many of the adjacent neighborhoods. Differing from the conventional aesthetic, the owners of this project had a vision for...

In late March, the AIA Northern Virginia Women in Architecture (WIA) Committee presented a Crochet 101 Workshop to provide attendees an opportunity to learn a new skill and socialize. The idea for the event originated from a conversation between Heather Casey, AIA, NCIDQ and Dani Juarez, Assoc. AIA, both at Summer Consultants, about cross-stitching and other needle arts. Heather wanted...

We had a great turnout on Monday, April 13 with 40+ members of AIA Northern Virginia joining us for the Middleburg Architecture & Historic Buildings Walking Tour + Wine Tasting led by AIA NoVA Member and local architect Timothy Clites, AIA — a 20+ year Middleburg resident, small-firm owner, and Chair of the town’s Historic District Review Committee. While Middleburg...

In what has become an annual tradition, AIA Northern Virginia recently participated in the Mt. Vernon Community School Science Fair. Member volunteers provided students with toothpicks, gumdrops, and sample designs to experiment building their own miniature structures. Architecturally focused K–12 programming inspires youth to learn about the power and impact of design, nourishes creativity, and establishes exposure to the profession...

On March 26, we gathered at Bar Bao in Arlington for the latest installment of the AIA Northern Virginia LGBTQIA+ Alliance Outing Supper Club series—an evening of dinner, drinks, and relaxed conversation in a welcoming setting. The Alliance is a committee of AIA Northern Virginia focused on connection, visibility, and support for LGBTQIA+ architects and allies within the Chapter. The...

Perkins Eastman ArchitectsAlexandria, VA Photographs ©  Judy Davis Project Partner: Ehlert Bryan; CMTA, Inc.; Heller & Metzger, Inc. The reimagined Minnie Howard campus of the Alexandria City High School realizes Alexandria City Public Schools’ vision of equity and a dramatically enhanced student experience across its Connected High School Network, offering a wide variety of programming for the city’s nearly 4,000...

By Jonathan C. Shoemaker, Esq.Lee/Shoemaker PLLC For many architecture and engineering firms, professional liability insurance is viewed as a necessary but opaque expense—something to renew annually, negotiate primarily on price, and hope is never needed. From a legal perspective, that mindset leaves firms exposed in ways they often do not discover until a dispute is already underway. There are several...

Are you ready to celebrate the AIA Northern Virginia 2026 Architecture Month with us? From walking tours to panel discussions, social events to family nights, our members have been busy planning programs focused on enriching the community and celebrating the role architects play as a force for positive change. With the goal of activating our membership base across the vast...