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.

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.

15 Projects in 15 Weeks: Mount Rainier Mixed-Use Town Center Development Plan (Week 15)

Located at the northeast entrance to Washington, DC, the City of Mount Rainier, MD was interested in improving its urban environment. In an effort to develop a new community-supported vision for the City that was founded on current and projected economic and market analysis, the CQA team (Bolan Smart, Gorove/Slade, R. McGhee & Associates, and Urban Advantage) designed the Mount Rainier Mixed-Use Town Center Development Plan. The Plan looks back to the city’s history as a successful mixed-use neighborhood, using a fine-grained approach, preserving buildings and inserting new infill structures.

Rendering of Rhode Island Avenue

The design process began with multiple site tours, interviews, and stakeholder meetings. A series of charrettes and community meetings were held throughout the process to ensure public participation and involvement.

Community Workshop & Charrette Session

Envisioning the area as a vital, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use town center with a special focus on the city’s artistic, historic, and environmental traditions, the final development plan includes implementation strategies, draft form-based code development/design guidelines, and transportation, land use, and sustainable infrastructure recommendations.

The Mount Rainier Mixed-Use Town Center Development Plan has received strong city, county and community support. Serving as an example of how historic neighborhoods can overcome past disinvestment and plan for a brighter future, the plan is currently being adopted as a prototype for other historic town centers in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Illustrative Plan

The Mount Rainier Mixed-Use Town Center plan has received two AIA Awards for its excellence in Master Planning and Urban Design, and has also been featured in Urban Land Magazine.

15 Projects in 15 Weeks: Herndon Senior Center (Week 10)

View of Motor Court and Multipurpose Room.

This community center for senior citizens serves as an important resource for the Town of Herndon, Virginia and surrounding Fairfax County. The Herndon Senior Center is the link between an existing senior housing community and the Herndon downtown Fortnightly Neighborhood (master plan by Cunningham | Quill Architects and Oculus Landscape Architecture).

View to Second Floor Rooms and Activity Spaces.

Designed for the Fairfax County Redevelopment & Housing Authority, the 23,500 SF Center includes a commercial kitchen and dining facility, a library with computer workstations, a gym, arts & crafts activity space, billiards and other game rooms. To promote community interaction within the Town of Herndon, the large multipurpose room is ideal for civic functions.

Front Facade.

In 2006, the Herndon Senior Center was recognized with the Virginia Recreation and Park Society Award for Best New Recreation Facility in the state. It was also awarded two American Institute of Architects Awards, and a Fairfax County Award for Excellence in Design. The community center was also featured in Inform Magazine in 2007, highlighting the creation of an "urban and social junction" with the community.

15 Projects in 15 Weeks: Huntfield Mixed-Use Master Plan (Week 9)

In the early 2000s, Cunningham | Quill Architects led a master planning effort for the design of 996 acres in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Huntfield New Neighborhood Illustrative Plan

Within the county’s urban growth boundary and adjacent to several important George Washington family homes, the Huntfield Master Plan draws heavily from local character and history for the design of this plan. Proposed as a residential and mixed-use master plan, the site would be established as transit-oriented development, connecting Huntfield with downtown Washington, DC via commuter railway.

Aerial Rendering of Huntfield Master Plan showing Commuter Rail Station

The plan reflects principles of smart growth: compact design; directing development toward existing communities; a mix of land uses; pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods with parks, civic buildings and retail. In addition, a proposed open space system connects to downtown Charles Town to its future historic trail system.

First Neighborhood of Huntfield, Charles Town already Completed

Following months of interactive public meetings, Jefferson County voted to support the new plan and eight months later, Huntfield was annexed into the City of Charles Town. Portions of the project have already been completed, with other parcels still under construction.

15 Projects in 15 Weeks: Potomac Yard Master Plan (Week 4)

Potomac Yard in Alexandria, VA was abandoned for more than ten years, while unsuccessful efforts were made to plan the former railroad switching yard. In 1998, the property’s new owner selected Cunningham | Quill Architects to spearhead an interactive community design process.

Alexandria Portion of Potomac Yard Master Plan  |  Alexandria, VA

CQA led an interdisciplinary team in developing a master plan that achieved a new vision for Potomac Yard. After 20 community outreach meetings held over 16 months, the team gained consensus on a new master plan. The success of uniting the community led to a unanimous vote of approval by the City of Alexandria Planning Commission and City Council on the Potomac Yard Master Plan. The Potomac Yard Process provides a framework of engagement built on effective communication with the community.

Lee Quill leading one of the community outreach meetings that led to the plan's success.

The new infill plan created 5 compact, mixed-use and pedestrian-focused neighborhoods and town center focused on transit stops.  A connected open space system links a network of smaller neighborhood and new larger city-wide parks throughout the plan, which locates residents within a 5-minute walk of any major park. Informed by the historic street and grid patterns of the adjacent Old Town and Del Ray neighborhoods, the street and block pattern provides neighborhood-serving retail and a major town center at the north end of the site. Higher density commercial and residential buildings are located near existing and potential transit stops, while taller buildings are placed along major street corridors and within the town center.

Rendering of Residential Street in Potomac Yard

The Potomac Yard process received extensive recognition as a model for engaging communities. It was the subject of one of the first EPA Smart Growth Speaker Series lectures at the National Building Museum, and it has been written about in numerous publications including Planning Magazine, Urban Land and Inform Magazine.

Falls Church Gateway Approved

After working with Akridge and the City of Falls Church on a mixed-use development for the the City’s North Washington Street Corridor revitalization effort, the City Council has unanimously approved the project. Falls Church Gateway is an 83,000 sf office/retail and 200-unit residential building located near the East Falls Church Metro Station.

Rendering of Falls Church Gateway  |  Falls Church, VA

The transit-oriented design is consistent with the City’s planning goals and creates a sense of place with a positive pedestrian experience and a sensitive transition from commercial to residential areas. Falls Church Gateway was recognized in 2006 by the Smart Growth Alliance for its sensitivity to adjacent neighborhoods, incorporation of green spaces, and long term goals of a LEED-Neighborhood Development.

To learn more about the project or view more images, please visit Cunningham | Quill Architects. For more information on Akridge regarding the project, please see their official press release.

Sustainable Achievement

In 2010, Cunningham | Quill Architects set out to “Sustainably Move Forward.” Looking back at the year, we accomplished exactly that.



CharityWorks GreenHouse  |  McLean, VA



Our first award of the year was the National Association of Home Builders’ Project of the Year for the CharityWorks GreenHouse. In an application process that went beyond design to look at every sustainable aspect of the project, the CharityWorks GreenHouse excelled from energy modeling to LEED points (The CharityWorks GreenHouse was one of the first LEED Platinum projects in the Mid-Atlantic region). The house also received another Project of the Year honor from the National Capital Region Chapter of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). The project was also featured in a documentary called GREENHOUSE: DREAM IT. BUILD IT. LIVE IT.



Davis Place  |  Arlington, VA



Our green design Davis Place project in Arlington, VA was also recognized, in addition to our Smart Growth Mount Rainier Mixed-Use Town Center Development Plan for the City of Mount Rainier, MD.



Mother & Child  |  Washington, DC



Even with all our achievements in green building, we continued to focus primarily on good design. A great design is the driving force for all our projects, whether a single family residence or a large institutional project. In recognition of this practice, we received a total of 6 state and local AIA Awards across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

For more information on our recent winners, see our full list of Awards.