Events Reminder - June 16, 2026 
Potomac Valley Events
Mass Timber in Multi-Family Housing: Is It a Good Fit for Your Project?
June 17, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Webinar | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
Mass timber is often attached to the stigma of being more expensive than other building materials. Because of this, some people assume it only makes sense for one-off projects where innovation is celebrated but repeatability is not. Is this true, or do its other benefits result in overall cost efficiency? If it is true, how can we expect to build the number of new housing units needed across our country in a sustainable and affordable manner?
Typical multi-family housing developments are in the range of 4-6 stories, often utilizing podium or pedestal construction with 1-2 stories of steel and concrete topped with 3-5 stories of light wood framing. Beyond these heights, building codes have historically required steel or concrete framing and, to justify the added costs of these materials, projects often go much taller. This has created a critical gap in housing developments in the range of 6-12 stories. Can mass timber multi-family projects make financial sense in the 4-6 story range, used in conjunction with light wood-frame systems? What new opportunities will the 2021 International Building Code create for mass timber housing in the 6-18 story range? This presentation will answer these questions and much more.
CHAPTER CLOSED FOR JUNETEENTH
The Chapter will be closed on Friday, June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday.
INTRODUCTION TO VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
July 7, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Webinar | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
This introductory course explores basic types of elevators, escalators, and miscellaneous lift applications. Additionally, this course covers basic "rules of thumb" to assist in preliminary determination of number and type of vertical transportation unit(s) required for a project based on several variables including size, program and population. Current concepts such as sustainable vertical transportation methods, impact on LEED points/process and Destination dispatching are also explored.
AIA Potomac Valley Committee Meetings – Join Us!
June 17 | Emerging Professionals Committee (Virtual) 6:30 PM
July 10 | Committee on the Environment (COTE) (Virtual) 11:00 AM
Events, Education & Opportunities
PASSIVE HOUSE DC CHAPTER MEETING
June 18, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Virtual | REGISTER
Attend and network with others working to transform the building industry across the US. Get the latest, regional, national and international Passive House news. Hear reports on ongoing efforts and help brainstorm new ones. Please invite friends or colleagues who may be interested. Zoom link is provided with registration.
Passive House Washington DC is part of The Passive House Network, in affiliation with the International Passive House Association, and the Passive House Institute. Questions welcome: [email protected]
ACTIVATING THE GUIDES FOR EQUITABLE PRACTICE, WORKPLACE CULTURE
June 18, 4:00 PM
Virtual | REGISTER
Explore practical strategies for strengthening workplace culture during the next Guides in Action session. This interactive discussion highlights Chapter 2 of the Guides for Equitable Practice and demonstrates how the Activation Kit can help turn ideas into action. Space is limited and registration is encouraged for those planning to attend. Contact Andrea Milo with questions.
A NEW NYC BUILDING CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
June 25, 12:00 – 1:15 PM
Webinar | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
Do you renovate buildings in New York City? Then this important webinar is for you and your team. There is a new NYC Existing Building Code coming in early 2027.
The renovation of existing buildings in New York City today is regulated by the 2022 NYC Building Code which references the administrative code and previous building codes dating back to 1938. However, City Council is currently voting on legislation that will bring a new New York City Existing Building Code into effect early next year. This new code intends to provide clarity and eliminate grey areas that have been inevitable under today’s regulatory patchwork.
The new code will have significant impact on structural design—and consequently all design—related to existing structures. Kyle Twitchell, P.E. of KTA Engineering will introduce us to the important provisions of this new code by walking us through recent structural renovation projects and outlining how the new code requirements would have changed those structural designs. Kyle's insights promise to be fascinating, informative and useful. He will condense this learning experience into 1 hour, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A.
2026 ARE® PREP: CONSTRUCTION & EVALUATION (CE)
July 18, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Virtual | 5 LU/HSW | REGISTER
Organized by AIA Northern Virginia
Prepare for the Construction and Evaluation section of the Architect Registration Examination® 5.0 (ARE® 5.0) with our comprehensive course. As one of the six divisions in ARE® 5.0, this program delves into construction, contract administration, and post-occupancy evaluation of projects. Explore critical areas like construction observation, shop drawing and submittal review, bidding and negotiation, and project closeout, all essential elements for safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants. Join us for a practical and thorough preparation experience.
ECONOMIC UPDATE Q3 2026 ABI INSIGHTS
July 24, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Virtual | 1 LU | REGISTER
Join AIA Chief Economist Richard Branch for a quarterly conversation about the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI). The ABI is a leading monthly economic indicator that uses proprietary AIA data to predict nonresidential construction activity 9–12 months ahead. Get ahead of emerging challenges and opportunities and inform your strategic planning with key insights into the industry’s latest economic data and trends.
Calls, Competitions & Deadlines
AIA MARYLAND 2026 EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS
Deadline for Professional Entries: June 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM
The AIA Maryland 2026 Excellence in Design Awards and 2026 Student Design Awards are now open for entries. Full program details and Call for Entries are available at the AIA Maryland Awards Portal.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 410-263-0916.
MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY COMPETITION FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Deadline for Nominations: June 30, 2026
AIAPV is accepting nominations for its 2026 Emerging Professional Awards Program (EPAP)—a dynamic initiative designed to celebrate, support, and empower our next generation of architects. Through EPAP, we recognize outstanding Emerging Professionals, foster meaningful mentorships with our esteemed Fellows, and strengthen the AIAPV community as a whole. The annual EPAP Competition recognizes outstanding Emerging Professional leaders and provides them with a year-long opportunity to hone their leadership skills.
2026 AIAPV EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS COMPETITION
Submission Deadline: July 20, at 11:59 PM
The 2026 AIA Potomac Valley Excellence in Design Awards is a prestigious opportunity to showcase your firm’s most compelling, creative, sustainable, and community-enhancing work. Whether you're breaking new ground or preserving cherished history, this is your chance to be recognized for elevating the built environment through design. The competition is more than an awards program—it's a platform to honor architectural innovation, highlight the vital role of collaboration, and celebrate the transformative power of design.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: AIAPV 2026 KEA MEDAL
Submission Deadline: August 15
The Kea Medal, awarded biennially, recognizes professionals, volunteers, and colleagues whose exceptional efforts have elevated public awareness of the role of architecture. Chapter members are invited to submit nominations for consideration in one of three categories: a) Service to the Profession; b) Leadership; and c) Architectural Advocacy.
If you know of someone whose contributions deserve recognition, now is the time to nominate them! The 2026 Kea Medal will be presented during the Chapter’s Design + Leadership Awards ceremony in October.
Classified Ads
2026-10-14:
The Texas Society of Architects has begun a search for their next EVP/CEO. With 7,800 members, the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) is the voice for Texas architecture, protecting and advancing a profession that plays an essential role in strengthening communities and addressing complex challenges in housing affordability, sustainability, resiliency, and public safety. TxA is in a strong financial and operational position with an influential advocacy voice, an established event portfolio, one of the most respected regional architectural periodicals in the nation, and an engaged network of 18 local components throughout the state. As Executive Vice President & CEO, you will build on these strengths to amplify and scale what’s working while identifying opportunities for TxA to better serve its members and the profession. Your leadership will help TxA embrace the same spirit of continuous improvement that defines the practice of architecture itself.
With a new strategic plan in place, TxA’s future direction centers on furthering advocacy impact; strengthening the value proposition for members across demographics and career stages; modernizing how TxA communicates its value and the value of the profession; and helping architects navigate significant changes related to technology advancement, workforce challenges, and licensure. To lead TxA into this next phase, you will oversee a capable staff of 10 across conferences and events, membership, advocacy and government affairs, communications and marketing, education, operations, and finance. You will manage a $4.2MM operating budget with $6.9MM in reserves, including the recently established TxA Legacy Fund, an endowment-like asset designed to support operations and new initiatives that benefit members and the profession.
2026-10-20:
Are you looking for a challenging, high-impact role with meaningful career growth at a top U.S. homebuilder? NVR, the parent company of Ryan Homes, NVHomes, and Heartland Homes, is seeking a Project Design Architect to join our innovative Architectural Design Team in our Frederick, MD office.
In this role, you will lead residential product development initiatives across NVR’s national footprint, partnering closely with senior leadership to shape design strategy, guide execution, and ensure alignment with market demand, cost targets, operational efficiency, and regulatory requirements. This position plays a critical role in influencing NVR’s long-term product vision and delivering market-ready homes at scale.
Projects span new product series development and series refreshes, utilizing collaborative BIM workflows, CAD, and advanced 3D visualization tools to support executive decision-making, cross-functional coordination, and successful market launches.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate the completion of new NVR product series or series refresh design projects.
- Complete and analyze market studies, develop concept and schematic designs, and create 3D renderings.
- Partner with senior leadership to understand product and market needs and overall design strategy.
- Ensure designs meet all guidelines, specifications, and building codes.
- Gather customer and market data, travel to new or existing markets, and present analyses to ensure alignment with market trends and cost targets.
- Collaborate with ASD and Homebuilding Operations leadership and with NVR’s Marketing department to align designs with strategy and customer expectations.
- Provide subject matter expertise within design and architecture functions; mentor Architects and Designers; and support Architectural Project Team members.
- Review architectural documentation for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; seal and/or approve as required (requires current architectural license/AIA/NCARB Certificate).
- Develop design solutions and provide technical perspective across multiple design initiatives.
- Maintain schedules, records, and documentation for multiple concurrent design projects.
- Work with NVR’s Marketing team to optimize furniture and appliance layouts and align color schemes on renderings.
- Complete reviews, analysis, and redlines for design projects, ensuring Design Architects make necessary updates.
- Present virtual product tours and designs to senior leadership.
- Coordinate and implement architectural and design requirements with project teams.
- Lead and mentor Architects, Designers, and Architectural Project Team members.
Qualifications:
- Preferred 7+ years of experience in residential design and/or production homebuilding.
- Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or a construction-related field.
- Current architectural license and/or NCARB Certificate.
- Experience in design development and construction documentation.
- Proficiency with CAD and 3D visualization software.
- Ability to read and interpret construction documents.
- Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and time-management capabilities.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Effective communication and collaboration abilities.
- Experience leading, mentoring, and/or coaching junior team members preferred.
- Comprehensive understanding of materials used in residential construction.
Life at NVR
NVR is committed to your success, providing tools, training, and industry knowledge to excel. Our management team is tenured and talented, with nearly 80% promoted from within, offering mentorship and career guidance. NVR offers top industry benefits, including stock ownership through a profit-sharing trust as part of our retirement savings package. NVR has had the highest Earnings Per Share growth rate in the homebuilding industry for the past 10 years.
View more about our culture and benefits at https://www.nvrcareers.com/.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Drug Testing and Credit Check are required. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States, as NVR does not provide visa sponsorship.
This position pays $110,000-130,000 per year.
To apply, please follow the link below where you will be taken to our careers page.
https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg01/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=NVRINC&cws=70&rid=36347
