MIXED SMOKE SIGNALS Washington D.C. has long been a conservative city for architecture, at least since Pierre L'Enfant laid out the city in 1791. As decreed by the McMillan Plan of the early 1900s, buildings could be no taller than the U.S. Capitol dome. This has resulted in a low-scale skyline that some find retrograde for a world capital. — Published 2005.0105
	D.C. CHINATOWN RESTORATION Every neighborhood undergoes transformations throughout its history. The use of an area and its population may change rapidly, while its buildings and structures remain relatively constant. A growing disparity between old buildings and new presents architectural challenges in preserving the buildings and revitalizing historic districts. In addition to providing modern amenities, architects must meet current building and life-safety codes. This can be difficult if one goal is to preserve the neighborhood's unique historic character. — Published 2004.0414
	PELLI'S RENEWED INVESTMENT BUILDING Building by building, Cesar Pelli is adding his touch to the staid architecture of Washington, D.C. In 1997, his terminal at Reagan National Airport, just south of the city, opened to rave reviews for its soaring, light- and art-filled bays beneath open trusses and for its dramatically silhouetted, metal-sheathed tower and terminal modules. — Published 2002.0206
	RADIO SPACE TAKES OFF It may look like Captain Kirk's command station as he navigates the Starship Enterprise through a TV episode of Star Trek. In reality, it's XM Satellite Radio, Inc.'s new broadcast operations center. The high-tech facility was beamed up by Studios Architecture out of a century-old printing plant in Washington, DC. — Published 2001.1024
	SLEEK MODERN PAPAL CENTER The recently dedicated Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. is a crisp, sleek structure that restates some of the basic language of modern architecture in a fresh, new way. Designed by the Washington office of Leo A Daly, the 100,000-square-foot (9300-square-meter) center houses artifacts from the Vatican, interactive exhibits exploring faith and culture, and an "interfaith think tank." — Published 2001.0404

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