Design Line
Monday, August 21 2023

2023 AIA Design Awards Winners

We are excited to share that six of our recent projects have been recognized with 2023 AIA | DC, AIA Northern Virginia Chapters, and AIA | DC Washingtonian Residential Design Awards. Congratulations to our clients, consultants, general contractors, and to our talented B|HA team members for designing and executing these projects! CARVER HALL, WASHINGTON, DC

Thursday, August 5 2021

New Lease of Life for Historic Georgetown Trio

Three multi-family apartment buildings within blocks of each other in the Georgetown Historic District have been restored and modernized, breathing new life into these 100 year old apartment buildings that are some of the earliest purpose built multi-family buildings in Washington DC.

Our client, John Hedden, whose family owned the buildings since the 1950s, led the renovation efforts with thoughtfulness and care, guiding the project through review at the Old Georgetown Board and subsequently through a challenging construction phase. The exciting transformation of these elegant buildings ensures they will endure for centuries to come.

Wednesday, May 19 2021

Living Legacy in LeDroit Park

Historic Slowe and Carver Halls provided housing for single war workers and then Howard University students for an impressive 75-year span, but each had reached the end its useful life as this specific dormitory design. Both buildings were designed by Hilyard Robinson, a distinguished architect and the first African American to earn an architecture degree from Columbia University (B.Arch,1924 and M.S. in Architecture, 1931).

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS along with client team Urban Investment Partners and Neighborhood Development Company creatively and painstakingly transformed the two Howard University dormitory buildings into 164 moderately priced apartments while preserving a historically significantly piece of the LeDroit Park community. These three-story apartment budlings offer the only high-density multifamily residences in the walkable and public transit-oriented neighborhood.

Wednesday, October 30 2019

The Maycroft: Justice Housing Helps Residents Live Their Best Lives

Justice Housing is deeply affordable housing in thriving neighborhoods, with supportive services onsite and within walking distance of grocery, education, and health services. The Maycroft is located in the lively, walkable Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC and is now home to 64 deserving families. The 1920’s-era historic building has been completely restored in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and has received historic tax credits, approval from the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment, receipt of New Market Tax Credits, and Enterprise Green Communities sustainable design, to name a few. The Maycroft achieves the Enterprise Green Community’s top rating and was financed through a wide variety of funding vehicles. In fact, its final historic tax credit certificate was received this past Tuesday!

Tuesday, July 9 2019

Case Study: A New Generation of Housing in LeDroit Park

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS has transformed two military-style dormitories into modern luxe apartments in the historic LeDroit Park neighborhood of Washington, DC. We’ve developed a case study that discusses some of the key design challenges and creative solutions to reallocate space and revitalize the historic buildings; our design process is explained through diagrams, renderings, photos and explanation.

Tuesday, April 23 2019

Construction Watch Tour: Ora Apartments

2144 California

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS and the National Building Museum are hosting a Construction Watch Tour of the renovation and façade rehabilitation of 2144 California Street, NW in Washington, DC. Join B|HA’s Bill Bonstra, FAIA, LEED AP, Aaron Margolis, AIA, and Robert Kuentzel for a tour of this 1959 mid-century modern apartment building featuring 113 reconfigured units. The renovation includes an enhanced lobby, public areas, upgraded elevators, and a fitness facility culminating with a landscaped roof deck affording spectacular views to the Potomac River and beyond.

Thursday, April 4 2019

Project Completion :: Historic Restoration and Addition

tilden hall

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS has restored and added to the historic Tilden Hall, a 1924 Colonial Revival-style apartment building situated on the corner of Connecticut Avenue, NW and Tilden Street, NW. The project added 25 new units in a contemporary addition while restoring and modernizing the main lobby, corridors, and 76 apartments in the existing building for a total of 101 apartments.

Monday, March 11 2019

Study in Contrast: A Spring Feature

With a thoughtful blend of contemporary and historic elements, Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS’ David Haresign, FAIA and Adam Greene, AIA transformed a century-old log cabin in Chevy Chase into the open, modern home the client envisioned. The seamless juxtaposition of old and new in this renovation and addition project inspired Home & Design magazine’s Deborah Dietsch to tell the story through an eight-page spread in the Spring Edition.

Thursday, January 3 2019

Our Recent Approvals Successes

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS’ successful history achieving entitlements continues with over 125 approvals from federal and local zoning, architectural, and historic preservation review boards. In 2018, we continued the successful run with nine recent entitlements approvals in Washington D.C., the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland. Congratulations to