Demystifying Density: Design Solutions to the Region’s Housing Crisis

The Washington, DC metropolitan region needs to add over 300,000 housing units by 2030 to meet its current demand. Most proposed solutions have focused on high-rise, high-density development in transit-oriented business centers.  Left out of the discussion is the potential contribution of more affordable low-to-midrise development in traditionally single-family neighborhoods that use most of the region’s land, often referred to as "missing middle" housing.

The region’s historic and single-family neighborhoods hold much potential for filling our housing need, but the fears surrounding higher density remain a roadblock. During this seminar organized by AIA|DC and the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship of the George Mason School of Business, join architects, planners, and developers to explore cutting-edge—and historically-compatible— design solutions for introducing missing middle housing into the city, suburbs, and exurbs where high-rises simply won’t work.

Speakers include:

• Steve Alloy - President, Stanley Martin Homes
• Chuck Bean - Executive Director, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
• Rebekah Brown - Senior Project Manager, Butz-Wilbern Architects
• Chris Lessard - President, Lessard Design
• Ileana Schinder, AIA - Principal, Ileana Schinder Arq
• Jim Snyder - Director of Planning & Development, City of Falls Church
• Greg Tamborino, AIA - Senior Project Architect & Senior Associate, Perkins&Will
• William Teass, AIA - Principal, Teass Warren Architects
• Theresa Twiford - Residential Developer, Pearson Smith Realty
• Charles Warren, AIA - Principal, Teass Warren Architects