News

Congratulations to our client, Enterprise Community Partners for closing on their financing in order to begin construction of the new Edgewood Commons V. This 151-unit, affordable, independent senior community is the final phase to be developed on the Edgewood campus in the Edgewood-Brookland neighborhood in NE Washington, DC. It will feature 18,000SF dedicated to services and amenities including a fitness room, a library, a large café with an outdoor terrace, a spacious and inviting multi-purpose community room, an indoor bike room, lounges and balconies on every floor. Bozzuto Construction Company is the general contractor and construction is estimated to be completed in 3Q’2025.

Mayor Bowser Breaks Ground on 93 Units of Affordable Senior Housing in Ward 3

DC Mayor, Muriel Bowser broke ground on the construction of 93 units of affordable senior housing apartments at the LISNER LOUISE DICKSON HURT HOME in Friendship Heights that is being developed in partnership with Urban Atlantic.

“We know that reaching our bold housing goals requires a citywide vision and a commitment to building affordable housing in all parts of Washington, DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “We’re proud that through this historic investment from the Housing Production Trust Fund, we will be creating 93 new units of senior affordable housing in Ward 3. We’re grateful to all the government and community partners who are making this project a reality and continuing the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home’s legacy of serving DC seniors.”

The campus wide master plan, including the new senior building and the renovation were designed by Michael Wiencek, FAIA, who was applauded by the development team for his extraordinary vision on very complex site. The new building will be constructed by Bozzuto and the renovation by Harkins Builders, Inc.

“We are thrilled that our dream of a continuing care community for the city’s most vulnerable seniors will soon become a reality,” said L. Ward Orem, CEO of the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home. “The new affordable senior living apartments, along with the assisted living building renovation, will transform the lives of the seniors we serve for generations to come.”

When we set out to design the new St. Elizabeths Shelter we were committed to transforming the way shelters were designed and bringing a sense of dignity to those needing its services. We wanted to create something that could be a model for the nation, while tackling difficult societal circumstances.

This was no ordinary project…and we are deeply honored that the jury for AIA Potomac Valley 2023 Design Awards thinks we achieved something special. Here is what the jury stated when awarding us with the “Best in Show” Award.

“What is not to love about the community and program for this project? The depth and community resilience considerations, as well as the sustainability are commendable. This was an easy selection for the jury and shows that even architecture that has to do a lot with a little can rise to the occasion.”

Thank you AIA POTOMAC VALLEY for this incredible award. Let’s keep dreaming and transform more communities through architecture.

Our team left the drafting tables behind and volunteered at Potomac Vegetable Farm in Purcellville, VA to support DC Central Kitchen (DCK) with their efforts to combat hunger and bring nutritious, dignified foods where needed most. It was a beautiful, sunny day to glean the fields as we picked fresh squash of numerous varieties. Then our team headed to Bear Chase Brewer for lunch that included a spectacular view of the valley below. Great time spent together while helping others!

About DC Central Kitchen: DCK serves scratch-cooked farm-to-school meals in DC schools, delivers fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets, and operates fast-casual cafes throughout the District of Columbia.

Spring Flats, the multi-generational, mixed-income, residential community in Petworth, a vibrant mixed-use urban neighborhood in Washington, DC, was recognized again for its outstanding design, this time by AIA NoVA.

Design of the Spring Flats campus was a collaborative effort led by our Wiencek + Associates and included the Development Team, the District of Columbia government, and the surrounding community. An extensive campaign of community outreach and engagement was undertaken with local community groups, the elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and direct neighbors to fully understand and accommodate community concerns. The result is a consensus solution that provides new affordable homes for residents, helping to implement the District of Columbia government’s ambitious goals of housing those in need.

Congratulations team on this impressive recognition by the AIA!

We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Jeremiah Fordham to Sr. Project Manager. Since joining the firm in 2019, Jeremiah has made incredible contributions to the overall success of the firm by diligently managing complex projects, seeking opportunities to improve the quality of our deliverables, and investing in the development of other staff members. “Jeremiah’s hard work, thoughtful approach, and determination to improve our standards are evident to all of us. He has earned this promotion and we couldn’t be more appreciative of his leadership”, said Michael Wiencek, FAIA, President.

W+A extends its congratulations to Andrew who recently passed his ARE exams and is now officially a registered architect and member of the AIA.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) presented The Appleton at Spring Flats with the 2022 ACHP/HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. The award was presented during a ceremony at HUD Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

This annual award recognizes a project that has successfully advanced the goals of historic preservation, while at the same time providing affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

“We applaud the partners behind The Appleton at Spring Flats, who have illuminated the vital role of historic preservation in ensuring more sustainable, equitable communities and in tackling the affordable housing crisis,” said Sara C. Bronin, ACHP Chair. “Across all levels of government, we must commit to making it easier to convert and rehabilitate more older buildings for housing.”

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge agreed that historic preservation is key.

“Preservation is critical to community health and our work to expand the supply of housing across the country,” she said. “Everyone deserves to live in a community they feel connected to. Preserving pre-existing homes is one way to ensure families of all incomes, particularly people with low incomes, can access housing of their choice.”

Leila Finucane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Victory Housing, accepted the award on behalf of The Appleton at Spring Flats.

“We are honored to receive the ACHP/HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation on behalf of the entire team,” Finucane said. “Spring Flats, a public-private partnership with the District of Columbia to redevelop a 3.3 acre site, included this endeavor to restore the historic but long vacant Hebrew Home for the Aged into The Appleton, an affordable senior community. Revitalizing this once-cherished community asset while fulfilling our mission to provide affordable senior housing has been a labor of love for Victory Housing, Brinshore, Banc of America CDC, Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planners, and Hamel Builders, and we have appreciated the support and input of the neighborhood community and all of our other partners along the way.”

The building now housing The Appleton at Spring Flats was constructed as the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Washington, D.C., in 1925 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After being abandoned in 2009, the development team of Victory Housing, Brinshore Development LLC, and Banc of America CDC in 2020 acquired the site via a ground lease from the District of Columbia. The plan for The Appleton at Spring Flats in the Petworth neighborhood included restoration of the building’s exterior and a full interior rehabilitation to 88 affordable age-restricted apartments, including 14 units for those who experienced homelessness.

The design and development team successfully preserved the character of the historic and culturally significant building, including rehabilitation of ornamental Star of David windows, exterior brick, terra cotta bas relief, and two original cornerstones. Completed in December 2021, The Appleton at Spring Flats surpassed all energy and sustainability requirements, achieving a LEED Gold certification. It adhered to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Properties, and when the project was reviewed pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, it was found to have no adverse effect on the historic properties.

The large site presented opportunities to develop complementary new infill construction. The Robeson, a newly constructed mixed-income multifamily building with 87 units, and The Rows, 10 mixed-income townhomes for sale, were designed to complement the historic building. Between The Appleton, The Robeson, and The Rows at Spring Flats, the approximately $78 million project created a total of 185 residential units, 80 percent affordable to seniors and families. Spring Flats was financed with a complex, multi-layer structure that included support from many partners.

In addition, there was extensive community engagement throughout the entire process, with the local advisory neighborhood commissioners, the Petworth Action Committee, and the community at large. The result is a project that has integrated seamlessly into the existing neighborhood and directly reflects the values of the community.