The DC government’s 2019 Housing Initiative set forth a goal of building 36,000 housing units by 2025, a third of which are to be affordable to households earning 80% below Median Family Income. This Order directs District agencies to investigate and implement a variety of approaches to accelerate the design, construction, adaptation, and creation of housing across the city—all while considering the needs of families, an aging population, and other residents with special needs.

Progress toward meeting this goal is well underway, and architects play a significant role in bringing these targets to fruition in a way that best serves people and communities in our city’s built environment.

DesignDC’s Fall conference will focus on the designer’s role, and expertise, in solving DC’s housing crisis.

DesignDC is a hybrid experience for our members and design professionals throughout the region. Over two days of content, we will host a featured keynote speaker and a reception, followed by a day of virtual education with industry experts.

Schedule:

DesignDC Day One - In Person 

5:30 – 6:00 pm: Welcome Reception

6:00 – 7:00 pm: Keynote Presentation

7:00 – 8:00 pm: Cocktail Reception & Networking

DesignDC Day Two - Virtual
All sessions qualify for 1.0 HSW|LU

8:45 am: Opening Remarks by AIA|DC Executive Director Mary Fitch

9:00 – 10:00 am: "ADDification®" without Gentrification: Neighborhood Revitalization without Displacement

10:15 – 11:15 am: Beyond Mandatory: Leveraging Affordable Housing to Create Truly Inclusionary Development

11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Advancing Housing Equity Through Design West of Rock Creek Park

1:00 – 2:00 pm: The Seeds of Sustainability, Presented by Sierra Pacific

2:15 – 3:15 pm: Smaller Scale Density: The Challenges in Providing More Housing in Low Density Zones 

3:30 – 4:30 pm: From Blackboards to Balconies: Adaptive Reuse in the Shaw Neighborhood

Keynote Speaker:

Yesim Sayin

Executive Director, D.C. Policy Center