Planning for the DCBIA Community Improvement Day

Every year, the District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) hosts an annual event known as Community Improvement Day. For the last seven years, Cunningham | Quill Architects has been involved in the design and planning of the event, with two staff members also serving as co-chairs for the past three years. Utilizing the skills of local building industry professionals and local community members, the event attracts 300-400 volunteers for the day-of activities.

Existing Marvin Gaye Recreation Center

This year’s Community Improvement Day is at the Marvin Gaye Recreation Center in Northeast DC. The local community and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation are very excited to partner with DCBIA to improve the Center and expand the programs there. For the last few months, our design team and other local designers have been working to develop ideas for beautification and program spaces.

On-Site Design Charrette

If you’re interested in learning more, volunteering, or donating materials for the event, please see the DCBIA Community Improvement Day page.

Working Towards AIA 2030

Since Cunningham | Quill Architect's pledge to the AIA 2030 Commitment in January, we've been hard at work to document and reduce our waste production and use of non-renewable energy sources. In this time, more of us have been using public transportation and the Capital Bikeshare program to get to work in Georgetown. While addressing our own areas for improvement, we've also begun using this dedication to the environment to influence projects, inform clients, and raise awareness.

CQA 2030 Team meeting to discuss our current AIA 2030 Initiative.

For more information on the AIA 2030 Commitment, visit the American Institute of Architects.

Transforming the Branch Avenue Corridor in Prince George's County

Cunningham | Quill Architects is working on the Central Branch Avenue Corridor Revitalization Sector Plan with Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (Prince George's County). In a recent article from The Washington Post, the Branch Avenue corridor was described as the definition of suburban sprawl "with strip malls and large parking lots lining the thoroughfare." As part of the efforts for the revitalization plan, the CQA Team envisions the corridor as a transit-oriented, walkable downtown area and has been leading charrette workshops to ensure community involvement. The next workshop will be held on July 20th at 6:30 pm at Francis T. Evans Elementary School, and will focus on the Coventry Way area.

To read the complete article from The Washington Post, please see Officials Seek to Transform Branch Avenue Corridor.

Sustainable Preservation: Something Old, Something New, Something Green

In March, at the National Building Museum’s “For the Greener Good Series,” Maria Casarella, AIA of Cunningham | Quill Architects took part in a panel discussion with Brendan Owens, VP of LEED Technical Development at USGBC, and Eleni Reed, Chief Greening Officer at GSA to discuss how Historic Preservation Concerns can be Integrated in Sustainability Rating Systems and Regulations.

In continuing the professional movement towards Sustainable Preservation, Maria Casarella, an appointed member of the Washington, DC Historic Preservation Review Board, gave a presentation on this topic at Design DC along with Steve Callcott, the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer of the DC Historic Preservation Office.

It was an opportunity to educate fellow practitioners about the best methods of evaluation for preservation and green strategies. Several Cunningham | Quill projects were included in the presentation as case studies for sustainable preservation in Washington, DC.

Our design approach thoughtfully integrates historic preservation with the most effective sustainable technologies available. We hope to share with you case studies of our completed and in-design projects that speak to Sustainable Preservation and good building practices in the future.

For the full presentation at Design DC see below for Something Old, Something New, Something Green, or visit the DC Historic Preservation Office for more information on Sustainability in the District of Columbia.