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Rebecca Sharkey

Rebecca Sharkey

Principal and partner at EHDD (San Francisco architecture firm), design lead on the decarbonized AIA headquarters renovation in Washington, D.C.

Sep 16, 2026

21:58
So I think
21:59
having that like kind of visible face of change, you know, showing that something is new, making the building look and feel more welcoming and inviting, while also demonstrating the importance of high performance in design, that sort of encompasses many aspects of that priority.
22:23
The mass timber stair I had mentioned is a unique and visible feature that causes visitors to notice and get excited about that design feature mass timber is becoming more and more common which is great but it's often used in building structures it's not seen in these kind of unique interior elements as much.
22:48
So our hope is that there's excitement about the design of it and that causes people to be curious.
22:56
We added an exhibit space, so there's galleries and there are gathering spaces, for programming.
23:07
So many aspects of the program and the spaces that we created in the building are also about teaching and sharing ideas and talking about innovation and the future of the profession.
23:22
There is a self-guided walking tour in the building that the AIA worked with a consultant in our team to really have teaching moments throughout the building that can engage with visitors on all levels.
24:34
So it talks a little bit about the sustainability features.

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