Watching projects leave our drawing boards and enter the real world generates tremendous energy and excitement for our firm. Just over a year ago, the Park + Ford project began demolition, and has since made remarkable progress in its dramatic transformation from 1980’s office towers to 435 amenity-rich residential units in Alexandria, VA.

Last month, the B|HA project team, client Lowe Enterprises, general contractor Whiting-Turner and several hundred subcontractor personnel, gathered on the outdoor terrace to celebrate the project’s “topping out”. With just a few short months remaining until completion, the Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS team returned to the construction site for a tour led by design team, David Haresign, FAIA, John Edwards, Assoc. AIA, Ronnie Ali and Lizza Medina. Periodic construction tours conducted by the firm educate our team about specific challenges and opportunities associated with complex projects, including unique adaptive use projects like Park + Ford.

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.

After 15 months of predominantly remote collaboration, we are thrilled to warmly and safely welcome our teammates and friends back together. We kicked off with a backyard party to reconnect our entire team with a face-to-face celebration as we have emerged from our pandemic hibernation.

We are proud of our resilient and tenacious team that continues to provide the highest level of design and service to with our clients, consultants, and construction professionals. The challenges we overcame together during the past 15 months taught us valuable lessons, and we are emerging stronger and better-equipped moving into our next chapter.

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.

The Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|DC) has announced that David Haresign, FAIA, a founding partner of Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS, has been selected to receive the 2021 Centennial Medal, the Chapter’s highest honor.

With a career spanning more than 45 years, David is a widely recognized leader of the Washington region’s design community. David is 2013 Past President of AIA|DC and board leader from 2009 – 2014, and co-chaired the Host Chapter Committee for the 2012 National AIA Conference in Washington, DC. David organized and chaired two major, highly successful exhibits at the District Architecture Center focusing on architects’ impact on the city – reVISION :: THINKING BIG and reBIRTH :: Washington, DC 50 Years after 1968. David continues to contribute to AIA|DC through his continued very active leadership in the Design Excellence Committee and in the Fellows Committee, and through his active mentorship of emerging and mid-career architects and designers. David is a sought-after design critic, and a frequent lecturer and panelist on current architecture and practice at regional universities, and national and local conferences.

Robust marketing is a primary requirement for successful architecture firms. David Haresign, FAIA is participating with a panel of national and local experts on Tuesday, April 20 to discuss the marketing strategies that have been proven to win business and retain clients. AIA Potomac Valley will facilitate an informative discussion that will provide attendees with a spectrum of tips and strategies for developing a strong marketing program for design firms. We hope to see you online for this lively discussion!

On Wednesday, April 7, many of D.C.’s developers, architects, city officials, and more will join Bisnow’s Digital Summit to discuss strategies and challenges for Repositioning & Adaptive Reuse in Greater D.C. Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS’ Partner Bill Bonstra, FAIA, LEED AP will be speaking on the topic including his experience leading the design of several notable adaptive reuse projects throughout the region.

Attendees will learn how owners and developers are making the switch from office to multifamily, how investors are financing their repositioning techniques, and other trends and forms of repositioning such as church or hotel to residential, retail to industrial, etc. We hope to see you online for this lively discussion and networking event.

We proudly celebrate our 4 new team members, who have joined us in 2021: Alanna Gladney, Gabriela Fuentes, Sumayia Samad, Jhave Buenaventura, and our Intern and Extern, Matt Gilmore and Oliver Church. Our people are our most valuable resource. These new team members were thoughtfully selected by the partners for their creativity, intelligence and talent, for their ability to operate in our collegial studio environment, and for their commitment and interest in our collaborative culture that values our clients, the community, continuing education, and the advancement of our profession.

Please join us in welcoming these dedicated individuals who passionately believe in the power of design to positively shape the world.

Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS recently completed two residential projects across the city that uniquely enhance the urban fabric and reinforce a connection between their residents and the community.  A new infill project along the lively H Street corridor reflects the neighborhood’s energy and diversity, with a contrast of materials and forms in a contemporary composition that relates to the proportions of its re-purposed Victorian neighbors. A Foggy Bottom rowhouse built in the late 1880’s is preserved and revitalized for a client legacy with a contemporary style and creative design solutions to allow sunlight to penetrate into a narrow building envelope.