Montgomery County, Maryland’s growing and increasingly diverse population requires the development of various housing typologies to meet the needs of a wide range of resident demographics. Our clients, along with the county, are filling these urban voids with innovative, intergenerational communities that include moderately priced dwelling units (MDPUs), senior housing, and multi-unit, clustered “missing middle” housing. New projects in Wheaton with affordable housing developer AHC Inc., and in Bethesda with market-rate developer Acumen, have received Montgomery County Certified Site Plan (CSP) approvals and will offer a combined 268 new residential units.

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.

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®).

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.

Our firm’s collective involvement with industry and professional organizations is led by the participation of our Partners. Their roles in the community and recent election to the Boards of two distinguished organizations establish a solid foundation for our staff at Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS to build on. In this week’s #DesignLINE, we highlight the missions and some of the latest happenings at the National Building Museum and the International Student House in Washington, DC.

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS is proud to partner with the National Building Museum as a sponsor of the second annual Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF: D.C.), the nation’s largest film festival devoted to the creative spirit that drives architecture and design. On Thursday, February 21st, the film festival’s Opening Night celebration in Washington, D.C. will include the premier screening of Frank Gehry: Building Justice, a thought-provoking film on what it would mean to re-design the American prison, followed by a private reception and panel discussion. The festival will continue through Sunday, February 24th, screening films every 30 minutes beginning at 5pm on Friday.

At Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS, our talented people are what drive the unique and innovative design solutions to the challenges of our neighborhoods. Our professional design staff is our most important asset and we’re excited for this opportunity to welcome aboard a creative and diverse group of architects and designers that have joined us over the past year.

EXHIBITION: April 2 – June 1, 2018 | OPENING RECEPTION: April 3
1968 was a year of upheaval across the country. Washington, DC was not immune to the economic and social repercussions affecting American cities in the wake of post-World War II suburbanization.

We are pleased to share the news of our most recent design award from the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter, an Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture for The Sanctuary at 819 D Street, NE. This 30-unit church-to-condo conversion project was completed in early January after over 2 years of complex entitlements and construction.