The Washington, DC Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT DC) is pleased to announce its Fall 2026 Symposium. This year's theme is Adaptive Reuse: Policy in Practice.
Since its creation in 1976, the Federal Historic Tax Credit has shaped the nation’s built environment and changed how Americans view historic landmarks and neighborhoods. The federal historic tax credit, along with a number of state tax credits, has incentivized the reuse of historic buildings across the country.
Former warehouses, textile mills, railroad stations, firehouses, hospitals, banks, office buildings, and even gas stations have been saved from demolition and converted to new uses that continue to serve their communities. Thus, rehabilitation/adaptive reuse has become one of the most popular and visible aspects of historic preservation in the United States.
50 years later, the 2026 APT DC Symposium seeks to explore various aspects of the rehabilitation treatment’s theory and practice – through both its development and utilization over the past 50 years, but also its future application.
The symposium will include seven (7) paper presentations, a walking tour, and an optional happy hour.
This year's symposium is available for in-person and virtual attendees. A recording with most presentations will be provided to registrants upon request.
Agenda:
Welcome Remarks
Mike Davis, APT DC President
Zachary Burt, APT DC Symposium Committee Chair and Past President
Adaptive Reuse of the Annapolis Post Office
Christopher Brown, Ziger | Snead Architects, and Michael Zajac, SGH
Raising the Roof, Carefully: Rooftop Additions and the Standards in Washington
Emily Eig, EHT Traceries
Gilded Age Mansions for the 21st Century
Mary Kay Lanzillota and Nicole Mezydlo, Hartman-Cox Architects
LUNCH
Built for Industry, Rebuilt for Opportunity: Sustainable Adaptive Reuse of The Packing House
Ethan Marchant, Quinn Evans
Adaptive Use Strategies for Large-Scale Historic Industrial Campuses
Tom Liebel, Moseley Inc.
Preserving a Collective Memory: The Rehabilitation of Woodstock High School
Neal Wright, Glavé & Holmes Architecture
Smithsonian Castle Basement - from Utility to Community
Andrea Righi, Stantec
Closing Remarks
TOURS (Concurrent, Select 1)
Option 1: Adaptive Reuse Along the Alexandria Waterfront
Option 2: Adaptive Reuse in Old Town (King Street)
Happy Hour (Optional)
King and Rye, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA
Registration Fees:
Registration includes full breakfast and lunch, AIA CEUs, APT DC swag, and a walking tour. A separate happy hour ticket includes drinks and light snacks.
Continuing Education: 6.0 LU/HSW AIA CEU credits are pending (5.0 for the presentation sessions and 1.0 for the walking tour).
Volunteer Cleaning Day at Oak Hill Cemetery (9/12): Join APT DC on Saturday, September 12th, for a volunteer cleaning event at Oak Hill Cemetery. 4.0 LU/HSW AIA CEUs are pending. For more information and to register: https://www.aptdc.org/event-6781427
Please contact symposium@aptdc.org if you have any questions.
© 2026 The Association for Preservation Technology, Washington DC Chapter
P.O. Box 9813 Washington, DC 20016
APT DC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
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