Bonstra Haresign Architects Closes as McClennan Acquires DC Firm
DC's Bonstra Haresign Architects is winding down operations after McClennan acquires its assets and staff. What this means for DC's architecture and design sector.
In brief
Bonstra Haresign Architects, one of Washington DC's most recognized architecture firms, is shutting down after McClennan acquired the studio's assets and staff. The wind-down ends a significant chapter in DC's design community, with McClennan absorbing the firm's talent and portfolio — effectively continuing Bonstra Haresign's work under a new banner.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Bonstra Haresign Architects — a staple of DC's architecture scene — is formally winding down operations in 2026.
McClennan has acquired the firm's assets and staff, positioning itself to absorb Bonstra Haresign's active project pipeline.
The consolidation reflects mounting financial and operational pressure on mid-size architecture firms across the DC metro market.
DC's architecture sector faces a broader reckoning as federal spending slowdowns and hybrid work trends reshape demand for commercial and civic design.
McClennan gains immediate design talent and institutional knowledge built over decades of work in the nation's capital.
A DC Architecture Institution Steps Back
Bonstra Haresign Architects built its reputation across Washington's most demanding design environments — adaptive reuse projects, mixed-use residential towers, and civic-minded developments spanning neighborhoods from Capitol Hill to Columbia Heights. The firm's imprint is visible across the city's evolving skyline, particularly in the wave of residential and mixed-use development that reshaped DC corridors over the past two decades.
Founded by principals Brian Bonstra and David Haresign, the studio earned recognition for its contextual design philosophy — buildings that respond to DC's strict height limits and historic preservation requirements without sacrificing architectural ambition. That approach made Bonstra Haresign a go-to firm for developers navigating the DC Office of Planning and the US Commission of Fine Arts, two bodies with outsized influence over what gets built in the capital.
The firm's closure arrives as DC's development market contends with a turbulent environment: rising construction costs, elevated interest rates that have slowed new project starts, and a commercial real estate sector still recalibrating after pandemic-era shifts in how federal workers and private sector tenants use office space. For mid-size architecture studios without the scale of national firms like Gensler or HOK, those headwinds proved difficult to absorb.
McClennan's Acquisition: What the Deal Means for DC Design
McClennan's acquisition of Bonstra Haresign's assets and staff is a strategic consolidation play — one that instantly expands McClennan's footprint in the DC market while removing a competitor. By retaining Bonstra Haresign's design professionals, McClennan inherits not just active project contracts but institutional relationships with developers, city agencies, and community stakeholders that take years to cultivate in Washington.
Acquisitions of this type — where a larger firm absorbs a smaller studio's full team rather than simply poaching key principals — are increasingly common across the architecture industry. According to AIA's 2024 Firm Survey, smaller architecture firms with fewer than 50 employees have faced compressing margins and rising operational costs, making consolidation an attractive exit pathway for principals approaching retirement or facing succession challenges.
For McClennan, the deal accelerates growth in a city where relationships and track record drive project wins. Washington's procurement culture — whether for federal commissions, DC government contracts, or private developer work — rewards firms with demonstrated local experience. Bonstra Haresign's portfolio provides exactly that kind of credentialing. Track DC's broader neighborhood development trends to understand where the next wave of design commissions will emerge.
Architecture firms are quiet power players in Washington. They shape how the city grows, which neighborhoods densify, and how public space gets designed — decisions with direct political and cultural consequences. When a firm like Bonstra Haresign closes, it doesn't just affect the architects who worked there. It affects the developers who depended on their expertise, the community groups who worked with them on neighborhood-sensitive projects, and the city's broader capacity to execute design work that meets DC's exacting standards.
The DC architecture market sits at an unusual intersection of federal influence and local development politics. The National Capital Planning Commission oversees major development decisions, and the DC Historic Preservation Office governs work in the city's many historic districts. Navigating those regulatory environments requires specialist knowledge that doesn't transfer easily — and that expertise now moves to McClennan.
For DC's broader commercial real estate and development community — particularly the developers and investors tracked on our DC Power Players Index — the Bonstra Haresign wind-down is a signal. Mid-size firms that built their practices on DC's pre-pandemic development boom are facing structural pressure that consolidation alone may not solve. The city's pipeline of new residential and mixed-use projects has slowed, federal office demand remains suppressed, and construction financing remains tight. See the full picture in WDCM's DC Luxury Market Report.
DC Architecture's Consolidation Trend: Bigger Firms, Fewer Studios
Bonstra Haresign's closure fits a documented national pattern. The American Institute of Architects has tracked declining numbers of independent mid-size architecture firms since 2020, as large national practices expand through acquisition and smaller boutique studios struggle to compete on fees and staffing. Washington is not immune to this consolidation wave — if anything, the city's high cost of operations and competitive talent market accelerates it.
The DC metro area has seen several notable architecture firm transitions over the past three years, reflecting both retirements among founding-generation principals and the financial pressure of operating in a market where project timelines stretch and developer confidence fluctuates with interest rate cycles. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data on architecture employment, the sector nationally has experienced modest employment growth, but that growth has concentrated in larger firms rather than distributing across the industry.
WDCM's original analysis: If this consolidation trend continues at its current pace, Washington could see its roster of independent mid-size architecture firms — those with 10 to 75 employees — shrink by as much as 20 to 30 percent by 2028, concentrating design influence in a handful of large national and regional practices. That concentration raises real questions about design diversity, community responsiveness, and the loss of specialist expertise in DC's historic preservation and adaptive reuse sectors. Follow the politics shaping DC's built environment at our DC Politics Guide 2026.
What Happens to Bonstra Haresign's Active Projects
The most immediate practical question for the DC development community is what happens to Bonstra Haresign's active project pipeline. Architecture firm wind-downs can create real disruption for developers mid-construction or mid-design — permitting processes stall, lender requirements for project architects must be satisfied, and community agreements tied to specific firm commitments can become legally complicated.
McClennan's acquisition of assets and staff suggests the transition is structured to minimize that disruption. By retaining Bonstra Haresign's design professionals, McClennan can theoretically continue active projects with the same team under a new firm name — a cleaner continuity than a straight asset sale would allow. Developers with Bonstra Haresign projects in the pipeline should expect formal transition communications as McClennan integrates the studio's operations.
For the architects themselves, the acquisition offers continuity of employment — a meaningful protection in a market where firm closures can mean months of job searching. Washington's architecture talent market is competitive, and McClennan's decision to absorb the full team rather than conduct selective hires reflects both the value of that collective expertise and the strategic imperative to preserve client relationships that are tied to individual practitioners. Keep pace with DC's evolving power landscape as new players rise to fill the void.
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FAQ: Bonstra Haresign Architects Closure and McClennan Acquisition
Q: Why is Bonstra Haresign Architects closing? A: Bonstra Haresign Architects is winding down operations amid the broader financial and operational pressures facing mid-size architecture firms in DC's post-pandemic market — including slowed development activity, elevated construction costs, and compressed project margins. McClennan's acquisition of the firm's assets and staff provides an exit pathway that preserves the practice's work and professional talent.
Q: What does McClennan gain from acquiring Bonstra Haresign? A: McClennan acquires Bonstra Haresign's full design staff, active project portfolio, client relationships, and decades of institutional knowledge navigating DC's regulatory environment — including the DC Office of Planning, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the DC Historic Preservation Office. This positions McClennan as a significantly expanded player in the DC architecture market.
Q: What happens to Bonstra Haresign's current projects? A: McClennan's acquisition of both assets and staff is structured to allow continuity on active projects. The same design professionals who worked on Bonstra Haresign projects are expected to continue that work under McClennan, minimizing disruption to developers, permitting timelines, and community agreements.
Q: Is this part of a larger trend in DC's architecture industry? A: Yes. The American Institute of Architects has documented a national decline in independent mid-size architecture firms since 2020, driven by rising operational costs, competitive talent markets, and consolidation by larger national practices. Washington DC's high-cost operating environment and competitive development market make it particularly susceptible to this consolidation wave.
Q: Who were the principals of Bonstra Haresign Architects? A: Bonstra Haresign Architects was founded by principals Brian Bonstra and David Haresign. The firm built its reputation on contextual, DC-specific design work — particularly mixed-use residential, adaptive reuse, and civic projects — across neighborhoods throughout the Washington metro area.
Q: How does this affect DC's real estate development market? A: The closure removes one of DC's established mid-size architecture firms from the market, concentrating design capacity among fewer studios. For developers, it underscores the importance of monitoring the stability of their architecture partners — particularly as DC's development pipeline remains constrained by financing conditions and federal workspace uncertainty.
What to Watch Next: Track whether other DC mid-size architecture and design firms announce similar consolidations or closures through 2026. McClennan's integration of the Bonstra Haresign team will be a test case for how well asset-and-staff acquisitions preserve design culture and client continuity in Washington's demanding market. And watch whether the DC Office of Planning or major institutional clients — including federal agencies and DC government — shift their architecture procurement toward larger national firms as the independent studio landscape thins. WDCM's Real Estate Desk will follow every move.
Reporting drawn from: Washington Business Journal / The Business Journals. Washington DC Magazine provides original analysis, DC-specific context, and editorial perspective beyond the source material.This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by WDCM editorial staff. Washington DC Magazine is committed to accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity. If you believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact editor@washingtondcmagazine.com.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
