The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) provides quality affordable housing to extremely low- through moderate-income households, fosters sustainable communities, and cultivates opportunities for residents to improve their lives.

The Development and Modernization Administration (DMA) is the design and construction department within the Authority staffed by architects, engineers, planners, construction project managers, inspectors and administrative support personnel.

Hired initially as an Interdisciplinary Engineer/ Architect and Owner's Representative, I pioneered the concept of commissioning local “celebrity” architects to design public housing properties across the City  by convincing Quinn Evans Architects to develop plans and specifications for the comprehensive modernization of Carroll Apartments, which set a new standard of design excellence for public housing modernization work in the District of Columbia.

As a result,  I was selected to co-chair the outsourced A/E firm selection process (10 firms) with the Program Director and Sr. Project Officer-Design and Construction, wrote and issued RFQs and RFPs, evaluated proposals, interviewed/ ranked firms, awarded A/E services contracts and NTPs, prepared Task Order work scopes for architectural services, and reviewed plans and specifications for conformance with DCHA design and planning objectives, DC building codes, ADA requirements, and HUD Rehabilitation standards. 

Public housing modernization work included the following general categories, depending on the specific needs at individual project sites:

• comprehensive modernizations
• general building/ parking lot renovations
• vacant unit rehabilitation program
• kitchen and bath gut renovations
• flats-to-townhouse conversion projects
• residential use to office building conversion projects
• hazardous materials survey/ report/ abatement
• lobby/ office/ typical corridor renovations
• door/ window/ roof replacements
• windows/ panels/ shutters/ entrance rehabilitation
• entrance door surrounds and facade improvements
• stairwell and breezeway renovations/ improvements
• trash chute/ compactor room improvements
• elevator replacement
• emergency masonry repairs/ structural remediation
• masonry and precast concrete facade improvements
• waterproofing
• new pitched roofs and entrance canopies
• balcony improvements
• site/ landscaping improvements and erosion control
• site perimeter masonry/ steel fencing
• site lighting upgrades
• fire alarm installation/ intercom and security system upgrades
• A/C chiller replacement
• mechanical/ plumbing/ boiler room/ electrical system upgrades
• ADA/504 physical improvements/ compliance upgrades
• other upgrades and replacements based on existing deteriorating conditions

After three years of superior performance, I was individually honored in an award ceremony for design excellence, teamwork and top achievement, presented with a ceremonial plaque and promoted to the solo position of Senior Architect / Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative for the Authority’s $200,000,000 per year HUD-funded Capital Improvements Program, tasked with  managing six Indefinite Quantity A/E Professional Services Contracts with aggregate fees of $2,000,000 per year. 

Simultaneously, I also created the Professional Reference Library for the design and construction department, led site-based building condition assessment surveys of multiple properties as an integral part of the Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, and  was invited to the Authority's senior executive staff strategy summit retreats for the next several years.