Today, March 11th, marks 20 years since Ralph Cunningham, FAIA and Lee Quill, FAIA, CNU founded their firm, Cunningham | Quill Architects. Their vision was for a firm that was also family; where designs are modern, innovative and sustainable but also sympathetic to the past; and where place-making involves community and creates consensus. From 1996 to 2016 and onward, this vision defines the unique character of Cunningham | Quill.
Cunningham | Quill spent its first few years in a small office on P Street in Georgetown, with 6 employees, including Scott Matties, AIA who joined the firm in 1998 and was made a Partner in 2005. From there, the firm moved to Canal Square in 1999, where we have undergone numerous renovations and additions to our studio space over the years. We’ve grown from 2 to 22 and counting, and have recently promoted Heather Daley Rao to Associate Principal, Nandor Mitrocsak to Associate, Angela Yu to Associate, and Maria Casarella to Sr. Associate.
We are proud of our achievements over the last 20 years, including receiving 63 state and local chapter AIA awards and working on over 350 projects. We have been fortunate to form strong relationships with our clients, resulting in many new projects. And we have collaborated with hundreds of partners and team members over the years. The firm has 89 alumni, many of whom have moved on to leadership positions in the architecture field.
We are grateful for everyone who has been a part of the firm and contributed to its success. It is an honor to celebrate these 20 years with you. We are thrilled to continue on this journey and look forward to the next 20+ years!