Over the past few months, we have seen the Coronavirus pandemic take the world by surprise. We believe the current health situation is one of our greatest challenges to our a nation – personally and professionally. The health and safety of our team members, their families, our clients, friends and colleagues remain foremost in our minds and greatly influence our decisions. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an uncertain health environment, and created unexpected challenges for our community. The Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS team extends our heartfelt feelings to those suffering illness or loss, and the anxiety about the future. By following sound practices and guidance from expert health professionals, exercising patience in trying times, and caring for each other, we will eventually overcome our current circumstance.

We are continuing our operations remotely, effective until we can safely return to our office. We are fortunate that our services can be provided through our computers, networks, team communication platforms and phones. As we monitor the constantly changing health and safety situation, we will keep you informed of operations in our office.

Across federal and local jurisdictions in the region, Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS has obtained community support and approvals on projects that require careful analysis and design solutions responding to unique urban conditions, while maximizing value for our clients. With over 150 entitlements awarded on more than 75 projects, we maintain a 100% approval rate. Most recently, B|HA worked closely with the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning, the Bethesda Board of Architectural Review and the Montgomery County Planning Board (MCPB) on projects located in Silver Spring, MD and Bethesda, MD, and with the DC Office of Planning (DCOP) and the Zoning Commission on an affordable housing project in Washington, DC.

The past few months have reinforced the importance of teamwork in the face of health challenges, and confrontation of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in society and in our profession. Our ongoing focus and attention on our team composition has allowed us to build, grow and develop our most valuable asset: our people. The most recent additions to our dynamic team bring talent, perspective, energy, creativity, and skill that make our solutions for each project unique to its special circumstances.

Our team is very proud to announce that Richard Abendroth, AIA and Robert Kuentzel, AIA have both achieved licensure as Architects. At Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS, Richard and Robert gained requisite well-rounded on-the-job experience, and completed the National Council of Architectural Review Board Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and the 6-part Architectural Registration Exam (A.R.E.). The AXP requires completion of 3,740 hours across six professional practice areas while the A.R.E. assess knowledge and skills of the practice including areas that affect the integrity, soundness, and health impact of a building, as well as an architect’s responsibilities within firms, such as managing projects and coordinating the work of other professionals.

Changing trends in the religious sector are increasingly leading many clerical orders to capitalize on the value of their land by selling all or parts of it for redevelopment, while in turn building smaller, more versatile and efficient facilities. Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS is working on one such project with the Paulist Fathers, who are building a new right-sized mission house and residence as the last of a series of redevelopments of the Paulist’s land in the Brookland neighborhood, DC’s “Little Rome”.

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS recognizes the importance of a healthy office environment for the well-being of its employees, and continually strives to improve and maintain these spaces. One sound way to improve air quality, enhance visuals, as well as employee alertness and energy levels is by bringing nature inside of the building through living green walls. Over the past half century, a notable increase of urban dwellers has led to an increase in air pollution and loss of green spaces. Living green walls infuse office interiors with life-renewing greenery. They offer an inspirational and aesthetically intriguing natural boost to employee morale. The structures of living, breathing plant life create the “wow factor” so many designers seek while championing sustainability. The benefits of green walls are felt in our office every day.

Last semester, the firm welcomed to the studio a talented intern, Michael Njo, an IPAL student from The Catholic University of America. The IPAL (Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure) program was created by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in 2015. The program offers a dynamic, innovative path to licensure for students who are dedicated to becoming an architect by integrating the opportunity to gain the real-world experience necessary to complete the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) and ensuring that each IPAL student can take all six divisions of the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®).

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS is honored to have received 13 professional, community, and industry design awards in 2019. Congratulations to our Clients, consultant partners and talented B|HA team members, and to our General Contractors for executing these fine projects.

Twelve years in the making, the Capital One parcel master plan focuses on several key goals: establishment of an urban street grid linking to the surrounding community; a mix of uses and density, particularly in proximity to the McLean Metro Station; establishment of an inter-connected network of pedestrian-oriented amenities; and environmental stewardship and sustainable urban development.