Honorable Mention: Roland Park Country Day Schook – Athletic Center
One of the first large scale academic projects that LE partnered with Bowie-Gridley Architects on in 2006 was the Roland Park Country Day School Athletic Center in Baltimore, MD. Long term client relationships with Tim Lovett and Steve Stotler at BGA likely made this possible. Many thanks to them both.
This is project is memorable for several significant design features including, a 104-foot clear span roof structure above the triple gym utilizing custom designed 12-foot-deep roof trusses, a curved monumental stair, multiple steeped recessed cantilevered slab conditions at the mezzanine level, an indoor running track that was suspended from the roof trusses and a 19-foot-tall site retaining wall consisting of a buttress design with permanent soil anchors.
The result was the 55,000 GSF, 3-level athletic center with a triple gymnasium, fitness rooms, locker rooms, training rooms and several multi-purpose teaching rooms. A new stair/elevator tower was used to link the new building to an historic existing building. An indoor running track was designed at the mezzanine level of the building suspended from the roof trusses. The project is LEED Gold Certified and won a USGBC Maryland Wintergreen Award for Sustainable School Design.
Client: Bowie-Gridley Architects
Facilities: Roland Park Country School (rpcs.org)
#20: Stanford in Washington, Adaptive Reuse, Washington, DC
When I founded Linton Engineering in 20023, one of the biggest questions I had was, “will the client contacts I have now still want to work with me as a new, start-up firm?”
The Stanford in Washington renovation and addition was one of the very first projects out of the gate for Linton Engineering. It was a large and complicated project, for a prestigious university, and fairly high-profile visibility with its location on Connecticut Ave. in the nation’s capital. A special thank you to Leon Chatelain, AIA for his trust in awarding us this project in the firm’s infancy.
The result was a 21,925 GSF adaptive reuse project with a 12,532, 5-level addition to the existing building. The project included a detailed structural survey, schematic design services, construction documents and construction administration services for the renovation, restoration and addition of student dormitories, a library, roof deck and a commercial kitchen.
Composite Hambro open-web steel joists were used to frame the floors that are supported on masonry walls. The existing Connecticut avenue façade of the building was retained and incorporated into the new structure to comply with Washington, DC zoning requirements.
Client: Chatelain Architects
#19: Washington International School – Library, Theater, & Primary School
One of the more complicated and challenging projects that we tackled early as a firm was the new Library and Theater building at the Washington International School, back in 2006.
It’s not often that you have a theater that is below grade, requiring large clear spans, with library stack loads above. What further complicated the project was the extension of the footprint of the theater below grade beyond the library above that exposed the roof structure to fire truck outrigger loads. A tricky steel framed mansard roof structure capped the building.
The completed project is a 26,000 GSF library and 306-seat theater facility, featuring new classrooms, offices, a suspended terrace, and a library that is available to the entire WIS community—students, faculty, staff and parents. A special thanks to Witold Szczepanik, PE for doing a lot of the “heavy lifting” on the design of this project.
This project led to a long-term partnership with the school and several other projects, including a classroom wing expansion for the Primary School, and renovation of the circa-1911 Tregaron Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that serves as the Middle/Upper School.
Client: cox graae + spack architects + Bowie-Gridley Architects
#18: One Central Park, Ashburn, VA
The multi-story stick framed residential project over a concrete podium slab has become a staple in the metro DC construction industry. It took a lot of effort for us to break into this market because very few of our long-term clients were initially involved in this type of project. It’s also difficult to get the opportunity to work on a unique project like this until you’ve already done one.
After completing several very small-scale “podium like” projects, we partnered with Heffner Architects, PC to work on a large-scale project right in our back yard, in One Loudoun in Ashburn, VA. It was a very rewarding and challenging project for us. Despite a learning curve it all came together very well and was a successful project for LE, the architect and the developer.
This 75,000 GSF, 35-unit, 5-level residential building features one-level living, open floor plans, linear gas fireplaces, expansive windows, 10’ ceilings, oversized terraces and cantilevered balconies at select levels. The multi-family project includes two stair cores, two elevator bays, a secure lobby and on-grade parking beneath the footprint of the building. Structural designs for the incredible, 1,700 SF rooftop terrace are constructed to withstand out-of-plane wind loads.
Client: Heffner Architects, PC
#17: Stone Ridge, Bethesda, MD
What engineer doesn’t want to chance to design a tower? While we know based on past client projects that we are not likely to do any real high-rise work, this project is special because the tower structure gave us another opportunity to add multi-story design work to our portfolio. The tower extends a modest 50-feet above its base elevation, and the structural design work was challenging due to required stiffness to support the tower’s brick cladding. The project also had a large auditorium space with suspended catwalks. This was one of our first academic buildings that was all steel framed using CMU walls as cladding to speed up the construction process.
Celebrating 100 years in 2023, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart’s new, 2-story, 53,500 GSF Student Life Center features a 137,000 GSF renovation and addition that includes the 1,400 SF Cokie Boggs Roberts '60 Theater with a proscenium stage, 420 fixed-seats, and another 172 seats at the mezzanine level. The facility also houses a scene shop, performance and music spaces, visual art studios and galleries, photography labs, kiln room, a commercial kitchen and the Matan Café and Mathews Dining Hall.
The facility received a “Designed for Learning” Award from the DC American Society of Interior Designers.
Client: Hord Coplan Macht
Photo credit: @JudyHDPhoto and @studioHDP
#16: Chevy Chase Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD
In 2012, I had my first déjà vu experience as an engineer in renovating and adding to a building where I had also completed the original design work for the existing building.
We once again partnered with the DLR Group | Bowie Gridley team on the Chevy Chase Country Club Winter Center in Chevy Chase, MD. The project doubled the size of the existing dining facility while also adding significant support space to the campus as a whole. Much of the original design team at BGA was still present for this project so it was like “bringing the band back together.”
The 17,500 SF renovation and addition had a significant impact on the existing adjacent structure and brought back vivid memories of the original design work. The outcome was an expansion of the kitchen, new dining areas, a new underground bowling alley, locker rooms, and a skating rental area and warm-up area. Food and beverage facilities now include three clubhouse dining rooms, full banquet facilities, two seasonal sports canteens and the casual dining Winter Center.
Chevy Chase Country Club moved to its current location in 1894 on a tract of land that included a pre-revolutionary frame house known as the Bradley Farmhouse. Today, the Club offers an 18-hole golf course, golf practice facility, 17 outdoor tennis courts, four indoor tennis courts, seven paddle tennis courts, a fitness facility, three swimming pools, eight lanes of duckpin bowling, an outdoor ice rink, an eighteen-room guest house, a nature trail and greenhouses.
Client: DLR Group | Bowie Gridley
Photo Credit: David Meaux Photography
#15: Catch and Release House, Bluemont, VA
Prior to founding LE, the majority of project experience during the first half of my career was single-family residential and academic work.
I was very fortunate to be the project engineer for several homes designed by Hugh Newell Jacobsen, and gained firsthand experience on high-end single family residential structures. So, one of the initial goals I had for LE was to provide structural design work for similar projects.
One of our first breakthrough high-end residential projects was the Catch and Release House. Cunningham + Quill was a new partner relationship when LE launched, and it took some time to prove ourselves. This home helped establish our reputation as problem-solvers due to the multiple cantilevered roof lines and roof design that pitched in two directions. Complex custom details were also required to brace the exterior storefront glass wall and the internally suspended stair.
The result was a spectacular, 6,000 SF, three-level, single-family home with a 2,000 SF detached pool house and garage. The main living area is composed of a steel framed, glass enclosed structure and 8-foot cantilevered roof on two sides of the room. LE also provided specialized wall designs for two-story wall height conditions at several interior spaces.
Client: Cunningham + Quill Architects
#14: Mercersburg Academy Prentiss Alumni and Parent Center, Mercersburg, PA
The 7,500 GSF Mercersburg Academy’s Prentiss Alumni and Parent Center project in Mercersburg, PA is a bit of a sentimental favorite for me. Due to LE’s growth, this was one of the last opportunities for me to wear my project engineer hat on a large-scale project. However, this project is also on my list because it required many of very my favorite engineering design aspects.
For starters, the existing three-level wood framed home was built in 1838, and required extensive field investigation for the proposed adaptive reuse as well as forensic work to determine what was causing the building to shift and tilt in several areas. The interaction with the modern addition involved unique detailing and many complex details where wood and steel framing were mixed interchangeably throughout the structure.
The result was a blend of historic and modern, highlighted by the link connecting the facility’s administration alumni offices and conference rooms to the historic home now referred to as the North Cottage. Originally housing Mercersburg Academy’s first six headmasters, the cottage provides three guest rooms for parents of current students and alumni visiting the campus.
This structure is one of several LE projects on-campus, including the two-story 41,000-square-foot Lloyd Aquatic Center that is home to the boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving teams, and the 62,000 Hale Field House, with its expansive lobby, mezzanine observation area, and competition level track and field facility with a reconfigurable infield that can be reimagined as four tennis courts, four basketball courts, or field event space.
Client: Bowie Gridley Architects
Photo Credit: David Meaux Photography
#13: Tea House, Bethesda, MD
One of my goals for Linton Engineering, LLC is to provide our clients with innovative and creative design solutions. We have to be willing to think “out-of-the-box” instead of offering a standard solution to a given design. That is why “Creativity” is in our mission statement as a firm.
The Tea House project really tested our creativity. For a structure that is only 12 x 16 feet in footprint, the complexity per square foot was off the charts. Constructed of bronze, steel and glass, an invisible cantilevered concrete pier beneath the main floor structure braces the tea house from out-of-plane wind loads and limits lateral deflection. Two diamond shaped steel roof trusses were used to suspend the structure at the four corners of the floor. Duct work was closely coordinated around the steel framed floor to minimize the total depth of the floor assembly.
The completed structure references the form of a Japanese lantern suspended from two rigid steel frames. The backyard addition functions as a tea house, meditation space, and stage for the family's musical recitals.
The project received a 2010 Washington DC AIA Award of Merit and was highlighted as a “What’s Cool in Steel” feature in the August 2012 edition of Modern Steel Construction.
Client: David Jameson, FAIA
#12: Drennen-Scott House, Historic Adaptive Reuse, Van Buren, AR
Early in my career, I was able to work on several historic structures reports via a U.S. National Park Service (NPS) preservation contract. I found this work incredibly interesting, specifically how historic buildings were put together before modern structural engineering techniques existed.
Shortly thereafter, the firm where I was working was awarded the contract for the reconstruction and replication of George Washington’s historic treading barn at his Mount Vernon Estate. Working with very skilled preservationists allowed me to gain valuable experience that I brought with me to LE.
One of LE’s most significant early projects was the stabilization and restoration of the Drennen-Scott house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The work included the circa-1838 4,000 SF residence, and began with condition and feasibility assessments, a structural analysis and structural remediation plan to convert the building into a museum. A Visitor’s Center was also added to the grounds.
Located on a bluff above the Arkansas River, the home of Revolutionary War descendant John Drennen and his family, is now a “working laboratory” for the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. Linked to the Trail of Tears, the Underground Railroad, and the Civil War, the project received the 2011 Award for Excellence in Preservation through Restoration from the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. The restoration was also awarded the Jurors’ Citation Award in Historic Architecture, from American Institute of Architects (AIA) Northern Virginia as part of the 2021 Design Awards.
Good friend and long-time LE partner, John Mott, FAIA, and director of Preservation with MTFA Architecture, received the 2022 AIA Virginia Honors Award and the 2022 Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement Award by Preserve Arkansas. LE would like to thank John for his military service and for his 50 years of commitment to the preservation, conservation, and restoration of more than 200 historically significant projects across the United States. We are proud to have been a part of the restoration of both the Drennen-Scott and Willhaf houses in Van Buren, AR.
Client: John Milner Associates, now MTFA Architecture.
UAFS Drennen-Scott House | Van Buren Advertising & Promotions Commission
#11: Suitland High School Replacement, District Heights, MD
The 389,108 square foot, 44-acre, Suitland High School replacement project for Prince George’s County Public Schools has been a game changer for LE in many ways. It is a third larger than any project the firm has done to date, and the first project where we split the building into different areas with separate teams of engineers and technicians to complete the job.
This required a totally different approach to project management and took our Revit set-up, analysis, and detailing techniques to an entirely new level. We greatly advanced our firm’s technical and modeling skills out of necessity, but the most significant takeaway was how the office could come together and work to achieve great things.
The complex replaces the original circa-1951 high school and is expected to open in 2026 and serve an estimated 2,000 students, including 500 Center for Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) students. The campus includes administration offices, classrooms, an auditorium, a theater, scientific research and computer labs, study/tutor and music/performance rooms, two gymnasiums, a stadium, athletic fields, track, and team facilities.
Although it could be quite stressful around deadline time for the staff members, when things got tough the team rallied, right up to the final deadline. Now, we are continuing to apply lessons learned that are paying dividends for us on more recent projects.
Client: cox graae + spack architects
#10: Mount Vernon, Distillery, Historic Replication, Mount Vernon, VA
I had the rare opportunity twice in my career to be the project engineer and designer for replications of historic structures at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.
The second project was after I founded LE, when we were awarded the design work for the reconstruction of Washington’s Distillery. The upper level of the 4,800 SF structure is an exhibit and interpretive center designed to meet current code requirements. Member sizes were authentic with the period of the buildings, with circa-1790 joinery used at all visible wood framing connections.
I learned most of what I know about historic preservation working with a team of experts on these two projects, especially Dennis Pogue, who at the time was the Associate Director of Preservation at Mt. Vernon. One of my fondest memories was walking on site and watching the archaeologists uncover the remains of the existing foundations upon which the new building would be reconstructed.
In the process I also learned that George Washington operated one of the largest commercial whiskey distilleries in early America, producing 11,000 gallons at the time of his death in 1799. The original structure was built on large river rocks brought from the Falls of the Potomac, and the walls of the distillery were made of sandstone quarried from Mount Vernon. To see photos of the archeological dig of the distillery foundation, visit Archaeology at The Distillery · George Washington's Mount Vernon.
Client: Quinn Evans Architects
#9: Virtue Feed and Grain, Historic Adaptive Reuse, Alexandria, VA
The 84,000 SF Virtue Feed and Grain is a truly a structural “rags to riches” story. Located on the Alexandria, Virgina waterfront, the circa-1800’s two-level industrial/warehouse building had fallen into a state of significant disrepair.
Paul Beckmann, the project architect, had an amazing vision for converting the building into a sleek, modern new restaurant with large sections of load bearing masonry removed and replaced with multiple large, punched glass openings for egress and natural light.
The rear glass corner was especially challenging because it had a tall masonry parapet wall above. There were also multiple cantilevered roofs suspended off the existing, unreinforced masonry. Steel mullions were inserted into the walls to resolve the load path. Structural repairs remediated years of water damage and floor live load upgrades now accommodate assembly and storage spaces.
True to the roots and purpose of the building, the thoughtful design incorporates hundreds of historic elements throughout, including antique wood, glass and structural pillars and dividing walls using bricks reclaimed from wall openings, and former stair treads reinvented as tabletops. Remnants of the original sign painted on the side of the building remain, reading Walter Roberts Inc. Hay, Grain, Flour and Feed.
A special thank you to Brian McSweeney for his excellent attention to detail on this project.
Client: Bartzen & Ball Architects
Lead Designer/Architect: Paul Beckmann
About - Virtue Feed & Grain (virtuefeedgrain.com)
Feasting on History at Virtue Feed & Grain - Alexandria Living Magazine
#8: Shenandoah House, Bluemont, VA
One of the most attractive aspects of high-end residential projects is their individuality, with each endeavor demanding creativity in our design approach to bring the architect's vision to life.
An example of this unique category is Shenandoah House – one of the most spectacular projects in our portfolio. This three-level, single-family home is skillfully nestled into and partially beneath a steep hillside, resulting in an uneven soil load exceeding 20 feet in certain areas. The rear of the house has multiple roof sections positioned below ground level, traversing the rooftop at various points to create a substantial green roof.
Among the most distinctive accomplishments are the very unique cantilevered concrete slab at one corner and awe-inspiring 20-foot-tall, floor-to-ceiling glass walls that envelop two sides of the great room. These walls have imperceptible sills and frame the view beyond, rendering the space as the most striking in the entire residence.
The project also incorporates composite steel floors, extensive retaining walls, a balcony projecting an impressive 14 feet from the foundation walls, 8-foot cantilevered roof overhangs, a floating fireplace and a custom circular staircase leading to a subterranean indoor pool. The living area extends outdoors with a sizable terrace that accommodates an infinity pool and a hot tub.
Particularly gratifying is that our involvement in this project was founded solely on our firm's reputation, as we had no prior projects with the architect.
Client: raad studio
For additional images of this project, visit: Shenandoah House — raad studio
#7: Vapor House, Bethesda, MD
It’s a unique experience as an engineer when you partner with a long-term client to design their personal residence. In fact, this particular architect was Linton Engineering’s very first client.
The dynamic of Client, Architect, and Engineer typically tempers the scope of design challenges, however, Vapor House, completed in 2012, defied this norm entirely. More than a decade later, its one-of-kind design stands as a testament to the architect’s envisioning of the ephemeral qualities of steam or fog coming off a dark body of water.
Vapor House pushed us beyond conventional limits and marked our first use of precast hollow core planks in residential design. Substantial cantilevers, full-story glass panels and extensive glass corners, when combined with the scarcity of supportive elements, required innovative use of full-story-tall Vierendeel steel trusses. The residence also marked our pioneering use of solid 2-inch-wide bar stock columns, strategically aligned within window mullions to minimize visibility of the steel components.
These intricate design elements culminated in a visually captivating 7,000 square-foot, L-shaped main house to replace the original structure that was destroyed by a felled tree. Fixed glass, retractable windows and doors overlook a terrace and adjacent pool pavilion.
It was on this project that my friend and colleague David Jameson, FAIA coined the phrase, “I’m not happy unless you’re unhappy.” Meaning that until we’ve stretched the structural design work to the extent that we begin to feel uncomfortable with what is being proposed, he hasn’t pushed us far enough.
Vapor House is the recipient of the 2018 Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|DC) and 2020 International Architecture Awards.
Client: David Jameson, FAIA
Photo Credit: Paul Warchol Photography
Architect David Jameson’s "Vapor House" Captures Childhood Memories of Maryland - Interior Design
The Chicago Athenaeum - VAPOR HOUSE | Bethesda, Maryland, USA | 2017 (chi-athenaeum.org)
#6: Reed School/Westover Library, Arlington, VA
The Reed School Community Center and Westover Public Library project stands out as one of my all-time favorites for a variety of compelling reasons. This 60,000 GSF addition and renovation encompassed several distinct projects and involved shared ownership between Arlington Public Schools and Arlington County Government.
One of its most notable features was the historic rehabilitation of the original 1938 school building, which had remained unused for several years. We were challenged to seamlessly integrate the historic structure into the new building. Achieving this required the removal of the second-floor structure, which posed a potential risk of instability in the exterior walls. To address this, we utilized steel HSS mullions, enabling the solid brick masonry walls to span horizontally rather than vertically.
The project features several striking architectural elements, including rooftop lantern designs, a light monitor, and a spacious glass box structure housing the reading room. Additionally, a large circular section of the building was meticulously designed and detailed to accommodate future expansion. These intricate elements not only made the project architecturally interesting but also introduced structural complexities that required significant creativity and attention to detail, making its successful completion even more satisfying.
The result is a versatile library and community center with academic and public gathering spaces, athletic and auditorium facilities to accommodate programs, such as children with special needs and teen parents. The project achieved LEED NC 2.0 Gold Certification and received the prestigious 2009 Award of Merit from Mid-Atlantic Construction's 10 Best of Awards, recognizing excellence in K-12 education renovation and new additions.
Client: cox graae + spack architects
#5: E30 House, Amenia, NY
When we were awarded the E30 house project in upstate New York, the striking architectural design by our partner, WC RALSTON ARCHITECTS, truly leapt off the page. This private residence features expansive cantilevered rooflines and a glass-box interior with minimal bearing wall opportunities.
Typically, we can seamlessly bring the architect's vision into reality, however the primary architectural vision for the house to appear to be "floating" posed several formidable structural design challenges. And while I would like to think that we could tackle the structural design of virtually any house without breaking a sweat, this project stretched our problem-solving abilities further than most.
To begin, there was the unique challenge of soaring cantilevered roof profiles at extremely narrow corners. Adding to the complexity are multiple clerestory windows, sliding glass doors and the glass-box interior that provided only a few linear feet of wood studs at the second-floor level.
The next issue to tackle was to design steel moment frames utilizing the round HSS columns frames as the primary lateral force-resisting system for the house. The only internal support line provided in plan is hidden in the fireplace chimney, concealing a vertical W21 column strategically placed to collect lateral forces at the center of the house, minimizing story drift.
Finally, the site itself posed challenges, with a rapidly sloping grade at the rear of the house, necessitating the use of sonotube concrete columns to reach the lower grade. Pile caps and grade beams were integral components of the foundation system.
Despite these obstacles, as the house nears completion, we're very proud of the progress made so far as the house is now fully under roof.
Client: WC RALSTON ARCHITECTS
Rendering Credit: WC RALSTON ARCHITECTS
#4: Dumbarton Oaks Fellow Housing, LEED Gold Adaptive Reuse, NW Washington DC
One of my personal favorite project types has always been adaptive reuse work, where a unique blend of thought, planning, and creativity is essential for success. There are no stock library details that can be reused because the analysis techniques and detailing are one-of-a-kind for each individual project. To ensure a cost-effective renovation, engineers must possess a deep understanding of the existing structure and the building's original construction to preserve as much as possible without resorting to heroic measures. It's a delicate balancing act.
When reflecting on our firm's history, one project stands out as a prime example of the design skills and ingenuity required to successfully complete a complicated adaptive reuse project. Harvard University’s Dumbarton Oaks Fellows Housing involved a three-story, 15,000 GSF interior renovation and a 6,000 GSF addition, transforming an existing chancery into a LEED Gold-certified satellite research institution, library, and dormitory. Situated in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, this project aimed to accommodate 20 junior and senior fellows along with their families in the fellows' housing.
Remarkably, the original 3-story exterior façade was retained and incorporated into the new structure to comply with zoning requirements. Interior renovation encompassed the relocation of the elevator and stair core, the removal of a partial 3rd-floor level. Exterior walls were removed to accommodate the new 4-level addition. Various spaces were created, including studios, sleeping rooms, bathrooms, a fitness room, and a 1,200 GSF multi-purpose room.
The facility received the 2017 Brick in Architecture Awards for Renovations/Restoration; 2016 AIA Potomac Valley Chapter Award; 2016 AIA Northern Virginia Chapter Merit Award; and 2015 North American Copper in Architecture Award.
Client: Cunningham I Quill Architects
Photo Credit: Robert Creamer
Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship House, Cunningham | Quill Architects (cunninghamquill.com)
Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship House | Architect Magazine
Dumbarton Oaks Opens New Fellowship House | News | The Harvard Crimson (thecrimson.com)
#3: St. Thomas Parish/1772 Church Street, NW Washington, DC
St. Thomas Parish at Church Street takes the #3 spot on our list, and it's truly one of the most unique and exceptional projects we've ever undertaken. What makes it stand out is its dual nature, essentially two buildings seamlessly integrated into one.
The front portion of the structure is a three-level church building designed with innovation in mind. We utilized post-tensioned concrete girder beams to span an impressive 70-foot width, creating a spacious, column-free worship area below. Additionally, the church has a striking 67-foot-tall tower structure and an intricate terra cotta façade. Another important aspect of the project was to preserve and reconstruct the stone ruin wall from the original historic church, seamlessly incorporating it into the new building's façade.
The rear two-thirds of the building consists of a 7-story reinforced concrete flat slab apartment complex with two underground parking levels. To overcome engineering challenges of having 5-stories of the building be supported above the garage entrance, we installed cantilevered sloped shear walls above the parking garage entrance, providing essential support for the floors above. Additionally, we engineered two stories of underpinning where the apartment building adjoined existing adjacent structures on two sides.
Given the challenges, it’s interesting to me that both Robert Schottler and Witold Szczepanik our primary project engineers indicated this job as there all-time LE favorite project. It’s certainly one of the more eye-catching commercial projects that the firm has completed to date.
The four-level, 18,000 SF parish was constructed over a concrete podium with two levels of parking below. At the opposite end is the circa-1899 church façade ruin that was preserved when the original church sanctuary was destroyed by fire in 1970. In between is a seven-level, 55-unit, apartment with metal and glass upper floors that step back from the street. Known as the “Church of Presidents,” the project received the 2020 MHN Excellence Award - Best Adaptive Reuse, Gold and the 2020 NAIOP DC|MD Award of Excellence for Best Institutional Facility.
Client: Hickok Cole Architects
Photo Credit: Ron Blunt Photography
St. Thomas Parish Development | Hickok Cole
Tied for #2: LCPS Independence High School, Ashburn, VA
When I founded Linton Engineering 20 years ago, I had two primary areas of focus: academic work and high-end residential projects. It took years to cultivate expertise in these domains, despite my previous work experience. As a resident and business owner in Loudoun County, VA, one of my biggest aspirations for our firm was to work on Loudoun County Public School projects (LCPS), specifically a new high school.
After 13 years in business, we were chosen as the Structural Engineer for the new LCPS Independence High School, in partnership with Stantec. My relationships and prior academic design experience with two highly experienced architects, Steve Stotler and Bob Sherrill, certainly helped. Steve and Bob had been with Stantec for several years, and their personal endorsement played a crucial role in our selection.
LCPS Independence High School is a 294,000 SF, 1,800 student school with a two-story classroom wing, two gymnasiums, a 1,000-seat auditorium, a media center, and a cafeteria. The 84-acre site is a comprehensive educational hub, encompassing athletic facilities, a stadium with a running track, synthetic turf field, baseball and softball fields, practice field, and various athletics outbuildings.
Our connection with Stantec and the number of successful projects within Loudoun County has grown as a reflection of our evolution from humble beginnings to a role that is helping to shape the learning environments within the greater Washington, DC region. Presently, we are actively engaged with Stantec on yet another ground up LCPS project, High School #14.
Client: Stantec
Tied for #2: Lightridge High School, Aldie, VA
Following the successful completion of our first high school project in Loudoun County, VA, we were presented with a second opportunity with one of our long-term clients, MTFA Architecture. This new high school was even larger in scale and featured a new prototype design with a different design team.
I had the rare privilege as the Structural Engineer to be part of the MTFA team's interview with the county, making our subsequent selection all the more rewarding. At the time that our design work was completed, Lightridge High School was the largest endeavor LE had undertaken.
The project posed a number of challenges, including intricate coordination and detailing for the front façade of the school. The façade had several unique elements, including cantilevered floor and roof framing, a curved slab edge, curtainwall installations, canopies, and a distinctive light tower feature.
The finished structure is an impressive 305,000 square-foot, two-story high school supporting the education of 1,600 students. The comprehensive learning design includes light filled classroom wings, computer labs, career and technology spaces, drama and theater venues, a 999-seat auditorium, a media center, gymnasiums, flexible food service areas and creative and special education facilities.
The campus itself extends beyond the school building and includes outdoor facilities with lighted grandstands, football, baseball, and softball fields, along with press boxes, a field house, and concessions and maintenance support buildings.
LE’s ability to come together as a team reflects our ability to push the boundaries, evolve our project management expertise and apply lessons-learned to even larger projects that have come our way.
Client: MTFA Architecture, Inc.
Photo Credit: MTFA Architecture, Inc.
'A place to call home:' Loudoun's newest high school opens at long last | News | loudountimes.com
#1: Wildcat Mountain Residence, Fauquier County, VA
When I began to compile a list of my all-time favorite projects commemorating our firm’s 20-year celebration, I had no preconceived notion about the order in which these projects should be presented. I simply set out to showcase the expertise our firm has meticulously honed over two decades. I also admit that I cheated a bit by adding an Honorable Mention project and two high schools that tied for #2, so technically I narrowed down hundreds of projects to a total of 22.
So how did I choose our #1 Top 20 project in 20 Years? Well, at about the 10-year mark in our firm’s history, one particular project stands as a watershed design project and represents our team’s growth and adaptability.
If I’m being totally honest, and the Wildcat Mountain Residence had been awarded to us a few years prior, we would not have been able to bring the project to life because it demanded not only technology that didn’t exist at the time, but skilled expertise in using highly sophisticated 3D analysis software. This software empowered us to iteratively account for every conceivable lateral force resisting element within the structure.
The project commenced with a rendering that challenged our ingenuity: A glass box with only a sloped inverted cantilevered trapezoid-like structure in the middle of the house. The entire upper floor level was also skewed and misaligned with the main axis of the house below. It doesn’t get much more complex than this!
The sloped inverted trapezoid in the middle of the house was engineered to serve as the main source of lateral force resistance. We began with the sloped braced steel frames on all four sides of the trapezoid in order to resist the lateral forces. We discovered that the drift, based on the torsional rotation of the structure, was too high, and supplemental lateral support was needed.
The exterior columns were extremely small HSS 2x2 members with very little stiffness. At several locations the columns were designed as “star-columns” by the architect, consisting of four angles joined together by hidden offset steel shim plates. We found that by joining these columns to the beams with rigid connections, we could gain the lateral stiffness we needed to keep the glass façade from racking out of plane.
One additional level of design complexity was the multiple double cantilevers at the first-floor level. We were given a total structural framing depth of only 8-inches to work with and this framing level also had to support a glass wall above making it extremely deflection sensitive.
Wildcat Mountain Residence stands out because it reflects our commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence in every project we undertake. This project pushed the boundaries of structural engineering and went on to be recognized as the recipient of the 2020 Washington Architectural Foundation (WAF) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA|DC) awards. It also earned accolades through the 2020 International Architecture Awards, cementing its status as a true milestone in our firm’s journey over the past 20 years.
A special thank you to Robert Schottler, LE’s Senior Associate Structural Engineer for doing the heavy lifting during the design and construction phases of the project. This was definitely a project to remember, and my friend and colleague David Jameson, FAIA, certainly outdid himself
Client: David Jameson, FAIA
Photo Credit: Paul Warchol Photography
Wildcat Mountain Residence by David Jameson Architect
Jameson-03a-Wildcat_1.jpg (1184×500) (homeanddesign.com)
The Chicago Athenaeum - Wildcat Mountain Residence | The Plains, Virginia | 2018 (chi-athenaeum.org)
AIA Northern Virginia : 2019 Design Awards (aianova.org)
A modern mountain retreat offers views in every direction - The Washington Post