David T. Haresign FAIA
David Haresign FAIA has led the design of over 400 projects in a wide range of typologies and scales – new and reimagined. David’s career spans five decades as a design leader and as a founding partner of Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS, Director of Architecture at Ai, Principal at Clark Tribble Harris & Li, and Project Architect at Dewberry & Davis.
David is a specialist in large-scale, complex projects, leading project teams and organizations with conceptual clarity, meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to design excellence. He implements diverse project typologies with challenging entitlements, large integrated teams, and tight fiscal constraints. His integrated project delivery achieves iconic design, technical innovation, restoration and re-purposing of old fabric that re-invigorates neighborhoods and communities. Committed to smart growth planning and preservation, David is a socially responsible architect charting a sustainable future. He promotes affordable housing as a basic human right.
David engages the public through outreach and pro-bono activism, developing alliances and recruiting through leadership at the AIA, the academy, and cultural organizations including the University of Virginia and the national Building Museum. the results of his work through awards, publication, exhibitions, and presentations. His projects are widely recognized with over 140 national, regional, and local design awards, and in international and national publications including the Wall Street Journal, Urban Land, Residential Design, Home & Design, ArchitectureDC and the Washington Post. David coauthored and led the publishing efforts for Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECT’S monograph Designing COMMUNITY.
David organized and chaired three major, highly successful exhibits at the District Architecture Center focusing on architects’ impact on the city – reIMAGINED :: New Uses for Old Places and Buildings, reVISION :: THINKING BIG and reBIRTH :: Washington, DC 50 Years after 1968. His outreach extends to boards of related professional, academic, cultural and community organizations where David serves as a Trustee, Director and leader. He mentors and inspires young architects with individual guidance. David has taught urban mixed use design studios at the Catholic University, is a sought-after design critic, and a frequent lecturer and panelist on current architecture and practice at noted regional universities and public conferences.
At the University of Virginia, David completed his architecture degree in 1976, and studied graduate planning. In 2012, he was elevated to the College of Fellows, one of the American Institute of Architects highest individual honors. David received the 2021 Centennial Medal from AIA|DC, the chapter’s highest honor, for distinguished service to the Chapter, community, and profession, and the 2022 DC Engineering and Architecture Society Architect of the Year award.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Institute of Architects
Octagon House Foundation Development Committee (2023 – 2024)
AIA | DC Washington Chapter of the AIA
Fellows Committee (2013 – Present)
Honors Committee Chair (2014 – 2015)
President Emeritus, Officer and Director (2009 – 2014)
Design Excellence Committee Chair (2009 – 2012)
Host Chapter Co-chair 2012 National AIA Convention
Committee Co-Chair
Northern Virginia + Potomac Valley Chapters of the AIA ::
Unassigned Member
National Building Museum
Board of Trustees, Executive Committee (2019 – Present)
Audit Committee Chair (2022 – Present)
Nominations and Governance Committee (2020 – Present)
Capital Society Member
University of Virginia :: School of Architecture Alumni Foundation
Chair (2024 – Present)
Vice President + Nominations Committee (2023)
Trustee (2016 – 2022)
Spaces Committee (Founding Member, 2021 – 2022)
Cosmos Club Historic Preservation Foundation
Chair (2021 – 2023)
Trustee (2014 – Present)
University of Maryland :: School of Architecture, Preservation and Planning
Real Estate Development Curriculum Council of Advisors (2008 – 2024)
Historical Society of Washington, DC
Trustee Emeritus (2022 – Present)
Trustee (2018 – 2022)
Advisory Council (2015 – 2018)
Lambda Alpha International :: George Washington Chapter
Member (2007 – Present)
Past Director and Chair of the Committee on Architecture,
Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering (2010 – 2014)
Baltimore City Planning Department :: Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel (2013 – 2017)
DC Preservation League
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Urban Land Institute
Advisory Services Panelist
Speaker
DC Building Industry Association
DC | MD CREDA (formerly NAIOP)
DC Leadership Council (2016)
U.S. Green Building Council
EDUCATION
University of Virginia
Graduate Planning Studies (1979)
Bachelor of Science, Architecture (1974 – 1976)
George Mason University
General Studies (1974)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Architecture Studies (1972 – 1973)
LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS
Professional
National Council of Architectural Review Boards (NCARB)
DC, MD and VA
Industry
EarthCraft
Universal Design