Gingertown 2011

It’s not just Santa’s elves that are hard at work at Christmas time. It’s architects too! To get in the holiday spirit, Cunningham | Quill Architects participated in Gingertown.

Cunningham | Quill staff posing on the east side of the Elf Vegas site.

Gingertown is a holiday program created in 2006 that joins architects, designers, and other building enthusiasts to create towns out of gingerbread and holiday candies. This year's theme was Viva Elf Vegas, and it was our fifth year participating in this program that supports organizations like the National Children’s Medical Center, the Washington Home, Martha’s Table, and Hannah House.

Fire station created on one of the civic zoned parcels of the site.

Lee Quill Leads National AIA SDAT Program in Colorado

Pikes Peak Region in Colorado Springs, CO

Lee Quill, FAIA, one of the Founding Principals of Cunningham | Quill Architects, was selected in March as the Team Leader for the American Institute of Architects' Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) for the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado. Lee first visited the Pike's Peak area for two days in the beginning of April with AIA National Staff, and helped to develop an initial understanding of the study area. From the information gathered during these early meetings, the direction and focus of the SDAT study was formalized, and the members who constituted the final team were selected.

Lee Quill discusses infill development with participants of a Stakeholder Meeting.

Led by Lee Quill at the end of September, the SDAT group of nationally recognized architects and other professionals came together in Colorado Springs to collaborate and provide their expertise in support of a new sustainable vision for the region. Out of this comprehensive, multi-disciplinary planning effort, the group formed an implementable plan and guide that will help shape the built environment and market-based revitalization in new and infill areas around the region. Under Lee's guidance, the team worked with local decision makers and stakeholders to develop a vision and framework to reach a consensus for sustainability that will be developed for generations to come.

SDAT Members in the Field

The mission of the Pikes Peak Region SDAT was to engage citizens, elected officials, agencies and  business leaders to define a sustainable built environment plan that promotes “complete” and livable communities, promotes economic opportunity, raises the quality of life for all citizens, and builds an identity around its unique and natural environment.

SDAT Meeting with Team and Steering Committee

If you would like to see the findings from the week long effort, visit here for the final SDAT Presentation.

19th Annual DCBIA Community Improvement Day

After months of planning, the District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) hosted their 19th Annual Community Improvement Day on October 1st at the Marvin Gaye Recreation Center in Northeast DC. Cunningham | Quill's Heather Daley, AIA, LEED-AP, was one of this year’s Co-Chairs for the event, along with Steve Hawryluk of James G. Davis Construction Corporation.

The focal point of the interior renovation to the rec center is a mural of Marvin Gaye.

Over 500 volunteers gave their time on Saturday to help the community of Capitol Heights improve their park. Projects included a complete interior renovation to the recreation center, cleaning the entire site, upgrading the baseball and sports fields by adding terraced seating, creating outdoor classrooms and shade pavilions, and unifying the landscape with new plantings and a paved pathway.

Outdoor pavilions serve as classrooms for the many summer programs at the rec center.

DC Mayor Vincent Gray was on hand to commemorate the project by cutting the ceremonial ribbon during the mid-day break. The Mayor was joined by Merrick Malone, President of DCBIA; Amin Muslim, Director of Constituent Services from Ward 7 Council Member Yvette Alexander's office; Gary Ball, Co-Chair of the DCBIA Community Services Committee, a representative from the DC Department of Parks and Recreation; and the Co-Chairs for the Event, Heather Daley and Steve Hawryluk.

The ribbon cutting. L-R: Gary Ball, Merrick Malone, Mayor Vincent Gray, Heather Daley, Amin Muslim.

Cunningham | Quill Architects has been proud to be involved with DCBIA's Community Improvement Day for the last seven years.

Cunningham | Quill volunteers at the end of the event.

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.