Design for Context

Each project is unique and must respond to the needs of the people who will use it as well as to the context of the environment around it. Great design starts with an understanding of place and through each building we touch we strive to improve the surrounding neighborhood. An affinity for existing neighborhoods and an understanding of the value of place-making are common traits of every project.

Firm History

JMc Architects was founded in 2023 to specialize in architecture, planning, and interior environments in the Washington, D.C. area. We offer the unique combination of individual attention from a small firm complimented by extensive experience in a variety of project types and high-level technical knowledge.

A General Practice

Rather than focus on a specific building type or market segment JMc Architects pursues a wide range of projects that have in common the potential to strengthen and enhance the communities around them. We actively seek clients who share this ambition and then work in partnership with them towards creative solutions that combine technical competence in building design & construction with design excellence.

Markets Served

Arts & Culture • Commercial • Healthcare • K-12 Education • Higher Education Not-for-profit • Interiors • Hospitality • Worship • Historic Preservation

Services

Site & Facilities Masterplanning • Facilities Conditions Assessments Space Use Analysis • Programing Design & Construction Documentation • 3-D Modeling & Conceptual Renderings • Capital Campaign Support • Construction Administration • Post-Occupancy Services

Guiding Principles

The AIA Framework for Design Excellence is the standard applied to every project at JMc Architects. It guides design exploration and decision-making with clients towards realizing projects that seek to improve the communities in which we live, work, and play. Learn more about each of the ten focus areas in the list to the right.

  • Good design elevates any project, no matter how small, with a thoughtful process that delivers both beauty and function in balance. It is the element that binds all the principles together with a big idea.

  • Design solutions affect more than the client and current occupants. Good design positively impacts the future by helping communities thrive—socially, economically, and environmentally.

  • Good design mutually benefits human and nonhuman inhabitants. What we design has a direct impact on the ecosystems in and around the site. Understanding the site dynamics will allow us to be more conscious of our impacts. on

  • Good design conserves and improves the quality of water as a precious resource.

  • Good design adds economic value for owners, occupants, the community, and the planet—regardless of the project size and budget.

  • Good design supports health and well-being for all people—considering physical, mental, and emotional effects on building occupants and the surrounding community.

  • Good design reduces energy use and eliminates dependence on fossil fuels while improving building performance, function, comfort, and enjoyment.

  • Good design depends on informed material and resource selection—balancing priorities to achieve durable, safe, and healthy projects with an equitable, sustainable supply chain to minimize possible negative impacts on the planet.

  • Good design is adaptable, resilient, and flexible to change over time—reducing the building’s risk and vulnerability and enhancing its usability, functionality, and value.

  • Every design project presents a unique opportunity to apply lessons learned from previous projects and discover new information to refine the design and construction process.