NEWS
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BELL’s Knight and Holdenried presenting at NeoCon 2024
Economic & Sustainable Benefits of Saving Historic Spaces | Virtual CEU Session, available June 10 - September 13, 2024
Knight and Holdenried will showcase the benefits of saving historic buildings from an economic, sustainable and wellness standpoint and as a means to involve and empower the community to achieve successful results for all stakeholders. From five case studies, participants will take away specific strategies and technical advice to extend the physical AND functional life of a historic building addition/renovation, breathing new life to the building in service the community.
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FACE TO FACE CONNECTIONS
Spring 2024
BELL Architects Newsletter: Volume 24 No. 2
We were thrilled to welcome so many of our old (not aging) friends and hopefully new friends into our office on February 29th for our Art + Arch evening. There's a long tradition in my office to support the community and local artists. As president of the DC Preservation League in the early 2000s, I was involved with the Downtown Artists Coalition and its efforts to keep artists in the 900 Block of F Street. Through those connections, we have had the honor to feature art and custom furniture in our offices since 2008, and many of our projects include local art installations.
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HOW IMPORTANT IS LIGHT TO YOU?
Winter 2024
BELL Architects Newsletter: Volume 24 No. 1
The dark days of winter are upon us. The lack of light is unbearably apparent to many – especially in our modern society where so many of us spend over 90% of our time indoors. As the days begin to get longer, we reflect on the positive benefits of increasing light exposure to everyone's health and performance. Beyond the seasonal cycles and exposure to natural light, learning and performance degraded during COVID in part, because many people were forced to spend time in less-than-optimal indoor spaces. As architects and designers of recreation, education, and housing facilities, among other spaces where people spend a significant amount of time indoors, we're focused on healthy environments of high-performing buildings that can enhance human occupancy.
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SHIPSHAPE: US Naval Academy Chapel Dome Gets a Needed Overhaul
Winter 2023, ArchitectureDC
By G. Martin Moeller, Jr., Assoc. AIA
Anyone who equates military installations with drab, utilitarian design surely would be impressed by the architectural quality of the five United States service academies. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is an imposing campus of neo-Gothic and medieval revival buildings perched on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River.
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VIDEO: David Bell, FAIA at Historic Gadsby's Tavern Ice Well
September 2023
By Joe Himali of Best Address
David Bell of BELL Architects and Joe Himali of Best Address meet at Gadsby’s Tavern in Old Town Alexandria, VA to discuss BELL Architects’ redesign of the tavern’s historic (c. 1790) ice well viewing area and further preservation efforts, a project which earned numerous awards.
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BREATHE BETTER - LIVE LONGER
Fall 2023
BELL Architects Newsletter: Volume 23 No. 4
As we continue to work on sustainable design projects and reduce the carbon footprint by repurposing existing buildings, we need to be sure our focus on energy doesn’t ignore that most buildings are for people; and that health and wellness must be considered equally important. Read more…
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ARCHITECTURE ENHANCES OUR TRAVEL/LIFE EXPERIENCES
Summer 2023
BELL Architects Newsletter : Volume 23 No. 3
Sure, we all recognize famous buildings or the seven wonders of the world. It's a big reason we travel. And today, more than ever, we are drawn to places designed by recognized architects. Travel provides a means to make connections to the world around and the distinctive architecture of each place. Read more…
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CAPITOL HILL RESTORATION SOCIETY'S 66th ANNUAL HOUSE AND GARDEN TOUR
May 13th - 14th, 2023
Join Mr. David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP for a tour of BELL’s work at Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital, along with many other notable homes and gardens in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
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BELL ARCHITECTS PRESENTING AT AIA|DC DesignDC
May 4, 2023
Join Mr. Scott Knight, LEED AP and Ms. Erin Holdenried, AIA, LEED AP BD+C at AIA DC’s DesignDC 2023 conference: The New Historic Preservation.
CONNECTING TO THE COMMUNITY: Showcasing five case studies, the benefits of saving historic buildings from an economic standpoint and as a means to involve and empower the community will be explored. Participants will take away specific strategies and technical advice to extend the physical AND functional life of a historic building addition or renovation, and strengthen its service to the community.
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NATURE AND ARCHITECTS
Spring 2023
BELL Architects Newsletter : Volume 23 No. 2
Spotlight on BELL's Resident Naturalist: Joshua Kaltreider
For over 15 years, I've been working both personally and professionally to create places that incorporate buildings into the urban landscape. Like many things today, we know that everything is connected, and for our well-being and our planet, I'd like to highlight a few actions that might enhance a future project and note how things will evolve in the future for our profession. Read more…
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MARYLAND & DC CONSTRUCTION ELITE: BELL Architects, Community - Diversity - Collaboration
Winter 2023, Maryland & DC Construction Elite
By Chris Chapin
Great design is something that every architecture firm strives for, but it is only the truly unique firms that combine inspired design with creating lasting works of architecture while demonstrating a passion and expertise for incorporating history, culture, and sustainable design into the built environment. For over two decades, BELL Architects has focused on integrating innovative and traditional practices, achieving measurable results to conserve energy and environmental, financial, and cultural resources. Read more…
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COACHING AND ITS REWARDS
Winter 2023
BELL Architects Newsletter : Volume 23 No. 1
I've been coaching ice hockey teams for over 30 years - everything from high-performing athletes to young kids having fun in house league. What I've learned through coaching, they don't teach in architecture school. Read more…
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AMERICAN SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY
November / December 2022
Citation: Renovation | Modernization
Garrison Elementary School
“A school transformation in an urban context that celebrates light, play and connections to nature and the outdoors.” - 2022 Jury Read more…
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AMERICAN SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY
November / December 2022
Outstanding Design: Community Use | Shepherd Park Community Center. Read more…
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METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS: HISTORIC CHAPEL RENOVATON
December 2022, Metal Construction News
By Marcy Marro
The craftsmanship and detail of this historic chapel renovation impressed the judges, winning the award fro Metal Roofing Retrofit in the 2022 MCN Project Excellence Awards. Calling it the best project in the category, the judges thought it was beautiful. Read more…
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VIDEO: GARRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
September 2017
By GCS-Sigal
Post-occupancy video of Garrison Elementary School, featuring Brigham Kiplinger, principal of Garrison Elementary School and Michael Sigal, president of GCS-Sigal.
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VIDEO: National Trust for Historic Preservation - Visit Bayou Bakery
November 2015
In Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, New Orleans native Chef David Guas is cooking up Creole-inspired favorites in a Civil War-era former carriage house. Standing adjacent to the Old Naval Hospital, which was commissioned by Abraham Lincoln in 1864, the Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Find out what makes this restaurant a not-to-be-missed experience if you every find yourself in our nation’s capital.
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VIDEO: Kenilworth Community Center's Groundbreaking Day
December 2015
Scissors and Shovels Day at Kenilworth Community Center Groundbreaking, featuring Washington DC Mayor M. Bowser and Yvette Alexander, Councilmember of Ward 7.
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VIDEO: Bayou Bakery receives DC Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation
May 2017
By DC Preservation League
The owner and team for the renovation of the historic building located on the property of the Hill Center (formerly the Old Naval Hospital) discusses the primary objectives of the work for the adaptive reuse of the building for the Bayou Bakery.
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VIDEO: Northeast Neighborhood Library receives DC Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation
May 2015
By DC Preservation League
The team for the renovation of the historic Northeast Neighborhood Library discusses the primary objectives of the work for the project which received the DC Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.
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VIDEO: Northeast Neighborhood Library spotlight report
February 2014
By Tashira Merritt
The Northeast Library is the fourth oldest library in the District, but it is the first library to be built entirely with DC funds. Spotlight reporter Tashira Merritt gives us the story of the grand opening of the newly renovated home for books.
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VIDEO: Darby Store - Moving a historic structure off the road
March 2013
Montgomery Parks historian Julie Mueller shares a brief history of the c. 1910 Darby Store, which was moved from its original location to provide setback from the roadway that was developed years after the store was built.
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VIDEO: The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
November 2012
The history and the renovation of The Hill Center - a vibrant home for culture, education and city life on Capitol Hill.
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VIDEO: Architect David Bell discusses the restoration of Capitol Hill's iconic Old Naval Hospital
February 2012
Join Architect David Bell for a hard hat tour of Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital.
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VIDEO: Restoring the historic iron fence at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
February 2012
Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC is surrounded by a beautiful and historical fence. Learn about how the fence was restored to its original beauty after decades of neglect.
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VIDEO: Green Roof at One Judiciary Square
September 2009
By National Building Museum
David Bell of BELL Architects and George S. Hawkins, director of D.C. Department on the Environment discuss the green roof at One Judiciary Square. The greening of this roof was part of the first 100 days of Mayor Adrian Fenty's administration.