AIA Northern Virginia’s Canstruction® event brought together creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and community spirit as six teams transformed an everyday building material—the humble can—into imaginative and memorable works of art, all on display at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. More than a design competition, Canstruction® demonstrates how architecture and design can make a tangible difference in our community. Every can...

By Paul E. Knupp III, Esq. and Alixandra Minadeo, Esq.Lee/Shoemaker PLLC On April 22, 2026, the Virginia Legislature enacted several new laws that will impact design firms who employ Virginia staff. The laws impose new regulations such as limitations on the enforcement of non-compete clauses, wage transparency requirements, paid leave for a qualified family or medical event, and paid sick...

Stantec Architecture Inc.Leesburg, VA Photographs ©  Chang Kim Photography Project Partner: Terracon Nestled within Loudoun County’s recreational park, a new chapter unfolds, seamlessly weaving together the rich agricultural heritage of the region with its burgeoning metropolitan future. This project is the center point of the park’s existing network of 17 diverse sports fields at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park. A...

If earning your architectural license is one of your goals for 2027, AIA Northern Virginia wants to help you get there. Formerly known as the AIA Northern Virginia ARE® Scholarship, our newly renamed Pathway to Licensure Program continues the same mission with a name that better reflects its purpose: supporting Northern Virginia Associate AIA members as they progress toward becoming...

The AIA Northern Virginia Young Architects Forum (YAF) hosted its fourth annual Mentor Topgolf Event, bringing together mentors, mentees, and industry partners for an evening of networking, friendly competition, and plenty of laughs. This year’s event welcomed participants from local firms including Jacobs, KGD, Allen Wright Design PLLC, and Little. As always, we invited product representatives to join the fun,...

For the fifth consecutive year, the AIA Northern Virginia Women in Architecture (WIA) Committee welcomed members, friends, and families to its annual Summer Social – an event centered on building relationships, strengthening connections, and celebrating the people who make our profession so rewarding. Held in a relaxed outdoor setting at Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, VA, the WIA Summer Social...

By Jonathan C. Shoemaker, Esq.Lee/Shoemaker PLLC Professional liability insurance is an essential tool for architects and engineers, protecting them against claims of professional negligence or errors in design services. Historically, claims-made policies have treated multiple alleged critiques of an architect’s or engineer’s work on a project as a single claim. For example, if a client asserts ten different alleged deficiencies...

The M GroupHerndon, VA Photographs © David Belgin, AIA (Partner, Studio Lead) with The M Group Design, Inc. Project Partner: JLL Post-COVID, Airbus consolidated its space, returning two of its five floors to the landlord. They sought our expertise to create a more efficient layout and refresh the aesthetic while staying true to the Airbus global identity. Our goal was...

This year’s 2026 AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards Gala recognized twenty-three outstanding projects at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia on June 25, 2026. The Committee received nearly 100 entries across ten categories. Awards were given to architects whose projects best demonstrated the design principles of the 21st century as listed in the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. There were three different award...

On June 25, Virginia Tech’s Washington Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) hosted its Architecture Career Reflection Spotlight Panel immediately before the AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards Gala. Both events took place in Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus Building One and provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect with architecture and design professionals from across the region. Beginning in January, AIA Northern...