Wineries, breweries, and distilleries appeal to the senses by attracting patrons through storytelling and placemaking. In Happy Hour Architecture, we feature distinctive and award-winning projects—in and around our nation’s capital—whose design ingredients entice drink enthusiasts to raise a glass in style.

Featured Wineries

• District Winery by HapstakDemetriou+ with Gensler
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard by Cunningham | Quill Architects
• Boxwood Estate Winery by Jacobsen Architecture, LLC
• RdV Vineyards by Neumann Lewis Buchanan Architects

Featured Breweries

• Bluejacket by Grizform Design Architects
• Right Proper Brewing Co., Shaw Brewpub & Kitchen by StudioMB
• Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House by Orbit Design Studio & Design Collective
• Starr Hill Biergarten at The Perch, Capital One Center by Parker Rodriquez with Fine Landscapes & HGA Architects

Featured Distilleries

• District Distilling Co. by Grizform Design Architects
• Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling Company by StudioMB
• Republic Restoratives Distillery by Mapos with Studio 3887
• George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon by Quinn Evans

Exhibition Credits
Happy Hour Architecture is organized by AIA|DC for the SIGAL Gallery. The exhibition is made possible with generous support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Additional support provided by Sustaining Firm Affiliate Members.

Coordinating Team

Executive Director: Mary Fitch, AICP, Hon. AIA

Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs: Scott Clowney, Assoc. AIA

Proofreading: Katie Spencer

Installation Support: Petra Debelack

Advertising/Publicity: Lily Oberst and Del’arnie Saintal

Print Production 
BluEdge

Special Thanks

Simon Jacobsen, Bill Young, David Neumann, and Ralph Cunningham; Victoria Wetmore, Torchai Opassatavorn, Adam McGraw, and Rachel Rittler; Kathryn Slattery AIA LEED AP, David Bagnoli, and Colin Brice

Additional Thanks

Stone Tower Winery and Bluejacket

The District of Columbia and surrounding region is a bubble of curiosities. With this juried photography exhibition, we asked professional, non-professional, and student photographers to rediscover the city’s past and present with an inquisitive eye, seeking out the majestic, surprising, and unfamiliar for their submissions. We encouraged them to stimulate the imagination and paint pictures on the wonders of architecture in the National Capital Region.

Of the 93 submissions, juror Austin Graff selected 21 photographs for exhibition, judging them without knowing any information about the photographers. Graff also identified Best in Show, Runner Up, and Honorable Mention photographs. These are indicated in the exhibition and will be featured in the fall edition of ArchitectureDC, AIA|DC’s quarterly magazine.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest and congrats to the photographers featured in the show: Perla Antoniak; Mila Baler; Douglas Davies; Kendall Dorman; Laura Fleischer; Jeremy Limerick; Kayla Mahood; Mark Edward Mentzer; Donna Merz; David Metzger, FAIA, FCSI; Roland Michelman; Frank Mobilio, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Manuel Javier Sanchez; Kenneth M. Wyner; Marwane Zouaidi

Juror

Austin Graff is a social media consultant, writer, travel guide and founder of Curiosity & Connection, a consultancy based in Washington, DC. Graff is currently a contributing writer with The Washington Post, the Post’s By The Way local guide to Washington, D.C., and one of the co-leaders of IGDC, the city’s first Instagram community. Previously, Austin led social media and influencer marketing for International Justice Mission, the world’s largest anti-trafficking organization, and Honest Tea, America’s #1 organic iced tea company. After growing up in Tatarstan and Germany, Austin proudly lives in Southeast DC with his wife, daughter, and housemate.

Exhibition Credits

Capital Curiosities is organized by AIA|DC for the Suman Sorg Gallery.

Executive Director Mary Fitch, AICP, Hon. AIA

Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs Scott Clowney, Assoc. AIA

Art Handler Hank Griffith

Supported by Sustaining Firm Affiliate Members

Print Production BluEdge

Building collapses are rare but can happen for a host of reasons: earthquakes, extreme weather, human error, or a combination of factors. Fortunately, the lessons we learn from building failures make us all safer. These lessons often lead to refinements in construction codes and maintenance protocols, and can even bring about critical retrofits of existing buildings.

We have chosen eight well documented structural failure case studies, highlighting how building safety has been improved in their wake. The exhibition concludes with some speculation as to what we may learn from the recent collapse of a condominium building in Surfside, Florida, in 2021.

The exhibition features some of our nation’s most catastrophic structural disasters—from the South Fork Dam and Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the Northridge Meadows Apartments and the World Trade Center. Each catastrophic collapse offers a story with lessons learned that improved the way we design buildings today.

1889……… South Fork Dam / Johnstown, PA
1922……… Knickerbocker Theatre / Washington, DC
1940……… Tacoma Narrows Bridge / Tacoma, WA
1981……… Hyatt Regency Hotel / Kansas City, MO
1994……… Northridge Meadows Apartments / Los Angeles, CA
2001……… World Trade Center / New York, NY
2005……… New Orleans Levees/Floodwalls / New Orleans, LA
2021……… Champlain Towers South / Surfside, FL
2021……… Western Kentucky Tornado

Acknowledgements

Catastrophic Collapse: Lessons Learned, After the Fall is organized by AIA|DC for the SIGAL Gallery.

Sponsored by:
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)

Supported by:
Sustaining Firm Affiliate Members

Curatorial Team:
Mary Fitch, AICP, Hon. AIA / Executive Director, AIA|DC (script writing)
Scott Clowney, Assoc. AIA / Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, AIA|DC (script writing; proofreading; image collection)
G. Martin Moeller, Jr., Assoc. AIA, Independent Curator (interpretive consultation; editing)
Rupa M. Patel, P.E., LEED AP BD+C / Senior Associate, Thornton Tomasetti (research assistance)
Dara Naderi, PE / Associate, Thornton Tomasetti (research assistance)

Exhibition & Graphic Design:
Rina Alfonso, RGD / Founder & Creative Director, Studio Aorta
Danielle Coates, RGD / Senior Design Associate, Studio Aorta
Arianno Ho / Studio Assistant | Design Associate, Studio Aorta

Print Production:
Print Exhibit Partners, LLC

Special Thanks to these Image Contributors:
California State University Northridge; Dave Eames, Illustrator/Graphic Designer; District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs; Fine Homebuilding magazine; Johnstown Flood Museum Archives, Johnstown Area Heritage Association; New School of Architecture and Design; Perkins Eastman DC; University of Washington Libraries

Health and Safety Guidelines*

Please note the following COVID-19 safety measures:

• Proof of vaccination is not required
• Masks are not required
• Social distancing is encouraged during your visit
• Stay home if you are sick, suspect exposure to or have COVID-19

By visiting the District Architecture Center, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19, acknowledge that such matters are beyond the control of AIA|DC and the Washington Architectural Foundation, and agree to abide by our health and safety guidelines.

*subject to change pending updated guidance

The District Architecture Center is proud to present its first in-person exhibition since early 2020. Join us in celebration of reopening to the public.

Since our nation’s first chief executive, the birthplaces, childhood homes, and private residences of U.S. presidents have fascinated American society. These dwellings—modest cottages and farmhouses to fashionable townhomes and mansions—illustrate over 230 years of American architecture. From George Washington to Joseph R. Biden Jr., this exhibition highlights some of the familiar and surprising landmark houses they called home.

Acknowledgements

Presidential Houses is organized by AIA|DC for the SIGAL Gallery.

District Architecture Center Team:
Mary Fitch, AICP, Hon. AIA, Executive Director
Sinclaire Erdwien, Deputy Director
Scott Clowney, Assoc. AIA, Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs

Exhibition Support:
Design made possible by ArchiCAD19, courtesy of Graphisoft
Printing provided by BluEdge
Exhibitions supported, in part, by our Sustaining Firm Affiliate Members

Health and Safety Guidelines*

The safety and wellbeing of our visitors and staff is important to us. Please note the following COVID-19 safety measures:

• Schedule visits in advance to reduce visitor capacity
• Proof of vaccination is required to enter the Center; bring your vaccination card with you to show at the door
• Masks must be worn for the entirety of the visit; gaiter-style masks and masks with exhalation valves are not permitted
• Practice social distancing while visiting
• Stay home and reschedule visits if feeling unwell, have tested positive to COVID-19, or suspect exposure to COVID-19 within the last 14 days

By visiting the District Architecture Center, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19, acknowledge that such matters are beyond the control of AIA|DC and the Washington Architectural Foundation, and agree to abide by our health and safety guidelines.

_{*subject to change pending updated guidance}

For the past 14 years, the Structural Engineers Association of Metropolitan Washington (SEA-MW) has hosted a premier gala-style dinner event to celebrate the structural engineering profession, through recognizing outstanding achievements by local firms and individuals.  This year, we are making our awards event open to the public through our professionally curated Awards Exhibition.  The Exhibition will showcase some of the best work performed by Washington DC-area structural engineers in recent years.  

To qualify for the Exhibition, firms throughout the region have submitted projects to our panel of nine judges, who are independent, out-of-market professionals in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry.  Our judges have selected up two project finalists in each category, and these projects are exhibited throughout the week on professionally and thoughtfully designed displays.  At the end of the Exhibition, each of the project finalists will be awarded either the Outstanding Achievement Award (1st place) or the Merit Award (2nd place).

We hope you will join us to celebrate and admire the great work performed by our local structural engineering community!

Visit the exhibition in person at the District Architecture Center June 19-25. No reservations necessary. Masks required.

Exhibition Hours:

• June 19: 12pm-4pm
• June 20: 12pm-4pm
• June 21: 4pm-7pm
• June 22: 4pm-7pm
• June 23: 4pm-7pm
• June 24: 4pm-7pm
• June 25: 4pm-7pm

About SEA-MW

The Structural Engineers Association of Metropolitan Washington (SEA-MW) is a not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to the advancement of the structural engineering profession.  Founded in 1988, the original members focused on improving the local community to enhance the business of structural engineering.  SEA-MW is currently comprised of over 70 member firms across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

 Over the past 33 years, SEA-MW’s mission has grown to include: developing continuing education seminars for structural engineers, identifying volunteer opportunities in the local community, training second responders for natural disasters, organizing events for recent graduates, and creating forums for students to connect with potential employers.  For the past 14 years, SEA-MW’s premier event has been celebrating the structural engineering profession through recognizing outstanding achievements by structural engineering firms and individuals in the local region.

The 2020 Awards Show combines award-winning projects from two of AIA|DC’s largest competitions:

• Chapter Design Awards
• Washingtonian Residential Design Awards

Each year, our competitions recognize practitioners who demonstrate excellence in design. Projects are selected by distinguished juries of design professionals based outside of the Washington metropolitan region.

Congratulations to all the 2020 winners!

The galleries at DAC are open by appointment on Fridays. Available times are 10am, 11am, 12pm, and 1pm. Please finish the form under the Attend button and a staff member will be in touch shortly. 

Current Exhibitions:

ALLEY HOPPIN! Putting People Back in DC’s Alleys

Doorways: Artist Reflections of Place by Donald Beekman Myer, FAIA

Only two guests at a time are allowed for a 45-minute on-the-hour appointment. Guests with a temperature higher than 99° will not be admitted. Guests are required to sanitize (hand sanitizer provided) or wash hands upon arrival. Guests MUST wear masks during their entire visit—no exceptions. By visiting the District Architecture Center, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19, acknowledge that such matters are beyond the control of AIA|DC and the Washington Architectural Foundation, and agree to abide by our safety guidelines for this tour.

Courtesy of EL Studio, PLLC

Did you know that Washington, DC has 3,217 alleys which, when unraveled, total 246 linear miles?  There are 82,397 single-family residential properties with alley frontage in the District.  If each of those properties added alley housing / accessory apartments with an average of 2.28 persons per household, that could be space for 187,900 new residents!

Born of urban pressures in the 19th century, the city’s alleys were later neglected, yet they can be reinvigorated for the 21st century. Through research, analysis, public engagements and physical interventions, the Washington Alley Project examines the city’s informal alley network as a viable site for new modes of urban living, creating opportunities to adapt to the social and technological pressures of the present and future without sacrificing architectural heritage.

Created by EL Studio, this award-winning, ongoing research and public space advocacy initiative has comprised of three phases: Research - mapping the physical evolution of the alleys and establishing an agenda for future development; Outreach - public engagement, creation of awareness and the identification of program; and Advocacy – connecting with stakeholders and the development of design proposals for new built interventions.

This exhibition will share the studio’s process through displays and interactive activities that prompt visitors to engage with the topics, insuring that as Washington, D.C. continues to develop, the unique alley network of public space will not go underutilized.

Organized by EL Studio, PLLC in cooperation with AIA|DC for the SIGAL Gallery.

Project Partners:
American University Game Lab
Bell Visuals
BluEdge
Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation
DC Department of Transportation
DC Preservation League
DC Office of Planning
Ferris Custom Cabinetry
Mount Vernon Triangle CID
Today at Apple
urbanSEED

Patron:
Tarpon Construction

Benefactors:
Alliance Builders
Mount Vernon Triangle CID

Supporters:
Added Dimensions
Comfort Engineering
CS Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Ditto Residential
JLC Engineering LLC
Lighting Environments
Linton Engineering
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald N. Slimp II
POWERHOUSE
Think Make Build, LLC