Judith M. Capen, RA
principal and co-founder
Historic Preservation Architect
45 years experience
39 years with architrave p.c., architects
She lives and works in the largest historic
district in the country, Capitol Hill, and
bikes to work.
Education
Master of Environmental Design, Yale University
Bachelor of Architecture, cum laude,
University of Cincinnati
Professional Registration
Architecture (DC, MD)
Projects
chief designer/principal in charge of design:
Modernization and Temporary Space, Engine
Company No. 27, DC DGS, Washington, DC
Shaare Torah
Temple Micah
numerous residential projects
principal investigator/principal in charge:
National Museum of American History, SI,
Water Reclamation Study
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
Flood Impact Study
principal investigator historic structure reports,
HABS documentation:
Renwick Gallery of Art, SI
called “a good read” by the work’s Project Manager
Superintendent’s Lodges, Battleground National Cemetery and Antietam National Cemetery,
Old Sudley Post Office/Thornberry House,
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Best Farm Secondary House,
Monocacy National Battlefield
“..a useful document.”
principal author, Cultural Landscape Reports:
Vols. 1 and 2, Meridian Hill Park, Washington, DC
called “one of the best,” by NPS-HAER staff member
U.S. Court of Military Appeals Building
HPTM:
U.S. Court of Military Appeals
Buildings 50 & 51 National Foreign Affairs
Training Center, State Department
documentation for historic structure
Tax Credit Certification:
Doctor's Office Building
420 10th Street
Recognition of Building Projects
projects published: Washington Post, Home Section, "Solutions;" Washington Post, Virginia Record,
New Shelter
Capitol Hill Restoration Society Annual House
Tour, two houses
Awards
City-wide award for Excellence in Historic
Preservation, District of Columbia, Planning and Historic Preservation Office, 2010
First Award, Design and First Award, Craftsmanship, Masonry Institute, Inc., Temple Micah Synagogue
Pro Bono Publico Award,
from the Washington Architectural Foundation,
for Capitol Hill Restoration Society Design Guidelines
1987-1990 various premiations Peterson Prize Competition, HABS, director of student teams
Montgomery County Historic Preservation
Certificate, Finn House
1977-1989 AIA Institute Scholar, Design Citation, Greenwich Affordable Housing Competition,
Second Prize ACSA/DOE "Teaching Energy in Design,” AIA Award, for Scholarly Pursuit in the Field of Architecture
Teaching
1997-2002 co-director of University of Maryland Cape May/Chalfonte Historic Preservation School
Other schools of architecture: architectural design, environmental control systems, historic preservation
1976-2002
Publications
Author or co-author of two technical articles, Papyrus, magazine of the International Association of Museum Facility Administrators.
Monthly historic preservation advice column Ask Judith, Voice of the Hill, 1999-2011
Design Guidelines for the Capitol Hill
Historic District
Numerous publications in national magazines (Lear's,
Fine Homebuilding, Old House Journal)
Selected lectures
Lectures widely to local, national, and international groups including presentation of refereed papers
on various topics:
John J. Earley and his Concrete at Meridian Hill Park
Sustainability
Historic preservation, both theory and practice
James Renwick and the Smithsonian Institution Renwick Gallery of Art
The Capitol Hill Historic District
Other
Funded research from AIA, ACSA, the Catholic
Univeristy of America, de Schweinitz Preservation
Services Fund, National Trust for Historic Preservation,
DC State Historic Preservation Office
Energy and Environmental Systems
Urban housing types on the east coast of the United States and designing in the urban residential context
Survey of Prehistoric and Historic Resources in the Brookland Community, D.C.