Julian Abele Tour: Argentine Embassy Tour: DC NOMA continued its tour of the works of African-American architect Julian Abele with a visit to the Embassy of Argentina on Friday, December 16th. A group of ten members were led on a tour of the building by an Argentine Cultural advisor. The group visited meeting rooms, offices, the Ambassador’s office and a magnificent oval Grand Ballroom. Members on the tour had a chance to speak with Argentine diplomats and discuss both DC NOMA and the works of Architects from Argentina. The one-hour tour started with a review of the history of the building written by an Argentine architect and ended with a group photo taken inside the building.
Julian Abele Tour: Belgian Ambassadors Residence "Marly":
DC NOMA members and NOMA students gathered with their guests on the morning of Saturday, November 12th to tour the Belgian Ambassador's residence located in Washington, DC just beyond Georgetown University. The residence was designed by noted African-American architect Julian Abele in 1931. Our gracious host the Belgian Ambassador and his wife, opened up their residence for our group while giving us a history of the home. On the tour were noted Abele historian Dreck Wilson as well as one of Abele's own descendents and former DC NOMA President Peter Cook along with his son. Architect Jeffrey Luker of Quinn Evans Architects also was on the tour and gave the group an update on the plans and challenges involved in modernizing and updating the residence. A taste of Belgian cuisine was provided during the tour by the Embassy as the group stopped to discuss the history and significance of this project by Abele.
Lamont Street Lofts Hard Hat Tour:
An overcast Friday afternoon in July was brightened
a bit as DC NOMA
members took part in a Hard Hat
tour of a residential construction site in
Washington, DC.
Organized by former DC NOMA President LaKeisha
Henderson,
several NOMA members took time from
their lunch break to visit the Lamont
Avenue Lofts
construction site. Located in the Georgia Avenue,
Petworth
section of DC, this area is an emerging area
in a predominately African
American section of the city,
blocks from Howard University. Mr. Buwa Binitie
of the
Neighborhood Development Company, the group heading
the redevelopment
project, served as guide for the tour.
The Neighborhood Development Company
is one of the few
African-American owned developers of it's kind doing this
sort of work. The Lofts are part of a four story building that
is being
converted from commercial to residential spaces.
They feature 38 living
spaces, most with elevated bedroom
areas and balcony spaces. Rooftop units
and duplex units
are also part of the building, which the group visit during
the
hour-long tour. The building project is part of a three-stage
development for the block. The tour was an excellent
opportunity for NOMA
members to view the construction
process of the lofts and to discuss the
challenges in
designing living spaces in an urban setting.
Howard
University Law Library Building Tour:
Special thanks to
Isham Baker, NOMA, AIA of Baker,
Cooper Associates for organizing a
tour of the Howard
University Law Library building. (click
here for photos
courtesy of Fine
Arts Photography)
George
Washington University Hospital
The
Washington DC Chapter of the National Organization
of Minority
Architects wishes to thank the SmithGroup
for this tour.
Pentagon
Renovation Tour
DCNOMA was given a tour of the renovation efforts
just days
prior to completion of the punch list.
National
Museum of the American Indian
The design and
construction of the 260,000-square-foot
Smithsonian - National Museum
of the American Indian
(NMAI) involved Native Americans representing
various
tribes. Our tour sponsor, the SmithGroup, was the
Architectural firm contracted to redesign the original
plan. They
developed a total new design for the interior
and structure, yet
maintained
the integrity of the original
architect's exterior design...
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