Behind the Scenes: B|HA at A’24
On June 5 – 8, the American Institute of Architects held their annual Conference on Architecture and Design in our hometown, Washington DC. Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS led project tours of a newly completed conversion project and of our longtime contributions to DC’s 14th Street and Logan Circle neighborhoods. We also lent a helping hand to some friends at GTM Architect for a tour in Union Market. Here’s a look at the tours we conducted!
Pressing Need: Revitalizing Downtown Office Districts Through Adaptive Reuse
The AIA Committee on Design, under the leadership of David Greenbaum, FAIA, LEED AP, assembled a panel of leading practitioners to learn about and tour 3 office-to-residential conversion projects. David Haresign, FAIA, and Ronnie Ali, LEED AP, showcased Park + Ford, our award-winning office-to-residential conversion in Alexandria, VA, with a presentation on the environmental, economic, community benefits and challenges associated with conversion projects to a sold-out 50-person tour group.
Congratulations to fellow practitioners Duncan Lyons, RIBA, LEED AP BD+C, and Yulia Beltikova, AIA, LEED AP, for their respective office-to-residential tours!
A Look at Park + Ford
Exploring Architectural Evolution:
Logan Circle and 14th Street
Bill Bonstra, FAIA, LEED AP, organized 2 tours that came out of his recently publishes Washington on Foot tour guide. He led one tour through the Logan Circle and Greater 14th Street Historical Districts along with architects Marc Fairbrother, FAIA, and Eric Colbert, AIA. Bill, Marc, and Eric provided fascinating insight into the clients, design and entitlements, overlay zoning, and unique construction of the neighborhoods’ iconic buildings built 30 years after the MLK Riots devastated this area of the city.
The tour included notable B|HA projects: Studio Theatre, The Aston, Q14, SoLo Piazza, John Wesley AME Church, and 5 Logan Circle, culminating over lunch at our studio/retail building at 1728 14th Street, NW.
B|HA in the Greater 14th Street Historical District
Union Market Tour — GTM Architects
In addition to our two B|HA-led tours, we also assisted in the organization and preparation for a tour in Union Market. The tour was written by Megan Davey, RA, for Washington on Foot: Sixth Edition, who was joined by Stephen Santos, Assoc. AIA, both talented individuals at GTM Architects. The tour showcased the changing landscape of Union Market and the history of Gallaudet University. Thank you to Megan and Stephen for their great work leading the tour!
Washington on Foot: Sixth Edition is an essential walking tour guide to one of the most walkable and historic cities in the US, co-edited by Bill Bonstra, FAIA, LEED AP, alongside Judith Meany and in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.
We are very grateful for all who assisted us in these tours, and especially to the attendees who generated thoughtful questions and engaging discussions – see you next year in Boston!
