AIA24 brought a projected 15,000 architects to DC on June 5-8 for the annual AIA Conference on Architecture and Design. The schedule and events included an extraordinary list of keynote Speakers, architectural tours around the DC Metro area, and a broad range of seminars and workshops. There were also a variety of evening happy hours including great events hosted by...

ZGF ArchitectsCharlottesville, VA Project partners include VHB, Affiliated Engineers Inc. & Whiting-Turner Careful consideration went into designing a space that supports a positive care experience for multigenerational and diverse patient groups. The design team focused on creating an environment that is easily accessible and equitable for all users. The building’s layout seeks to reduce the number of steps patients, who are...

On Monday, May 13, approximately 40 members of AIA Northern Virginia were treated to “An Uncommon Monday,” led by AIA NoVA Board Director Chuck Swartz, FAIA, alongside his design/life partner Beth Reader, FAIA (founders of Reader & Swartz Architects, and Metrobilly Quarterly) and their team, with special guest and current AIA Virginia President, Kelly Callahan, AIA, of VMDO. Our “fast-paced...

Do you often eat lunch at your desk or run out just to grab a lunch to bring back to the office so that you can rush back to work? Or do you skip lunch altogether because you are on a deadline and just don’t have the time to stop for a break? On Thursday, May 2, the AIA Northern...

Architecture, history, and sketching came together once more for the third Annual Walking Sketch Tour in Old Town Alexandria. The event was hosted by the Women in Architecture Committee (WIA), in collaboration with Urban Sketchers Washington DC and the Young Architects Forum (YAF). This year, the rain added a layer of romanticism to the tour. The meeting point was at...

Every year our Honors & Nominations committee seeks to acknowledge members and organizations in one of our six categories: Award of Honor, Outstanding Achievement, Distinguished Leadership, Service to the Chapter and AIA Northern Virginia Chapter Award, as well as suggestions toward our Craftsmanship Award. All selected candidates will be celebrated at our Autumn Social in Fairfax, VA, this October.  We...

Reader & Swartz Architects, P.C.Winchester, VA  A remnant of an old working farm, this silo is now a meaningful feature at the site of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. Built in 1962, the abandoned silo was revived as a new art folly, an extension of the existing garden follies within the Museum’s formal gardens. The silo’s original roof dome...

The success of our AIA Northern Virginia Chapter is built on the active and impassioned involvement of our members and the steady flow of dedicated volunteer leaders that have been willing to invest their time, energy, and passion to serve our profession. In March, we celebrated our decades of strong NoVA Chapter leadership at the Past Presidents Happy Hour +...

The AIA Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society, and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession on a national level. This recognition highlights not only the achievements of the architect as an individual, but also honors them before the public and the profession as a...

In March, the Young Architects Forum (YAF) revived the Napkin Sketching Contest, to showcase the starting point of many architectural marvels — the humble napkin sketch. Designers of all levels, from professionals to beginners, eagerly submitted their napkin sketches for consideration. The entries ranged from playful doodles by aspiring elementary school students to precise drawings by seasoned firm leaders, each...