Coffee & Carbon (Wednesday, October 07, 2026)

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Back again by popular demand! Join us on Wednesday, October 7th, to take part in an interactive activity while enjoying breakfast.

Schedule:

8:30AM-9:00AM - Arrival and Breakfast

9:00AM-10:00AM - Interactive Activity

10:00AM-10:30AM - Networking and Wrap-up

Light breakfast and refreshments will be provided.

The event will take place on the enclosed rooftop at 1700 K St NW, at Farragut West and Farragut North Metro. Many thanks to the host, Walter P. Moore and Associates.

Space is limited, so RSVP HERE today!

Member Meeting #2: AI in Practice: A Year of Progress in Structural Engineering & Architectural Design (Wednesday, October 21, 2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Following the success of last year's program, AIA|DC and SEA-MW are once again bringing together architects, engineers, educators, and technology leaders to explore how AI is reshaping the design and construction professions.

Panelists will cover topics from AI-assisted design workflows and architectural education to digital twins and intelligent infrastructure, sharing practical insights into how organizations are moving beyond experimentation to real implementation. Through real-world examples and cross-disciplinary discussion, attendees will come away with a clearer understanding of the opportunities, limitations, and responsibilities that AI brings to the AEC community.

As AI grows more capable of generating images, concepts, analyses, and recommendations, the design professions face a fundamental question: when technology can produce countless possibilities, what is the role of human judgment? Join us as design professionals and educators consider how creativity, expertise, and professional responsibility are being redefined in an era of AI-assisted practice.

Credits: 1 HSW and 1 Structural PDH

Panelists:

Julian Arrington - AIA, Associate and Lead Designer, SmithGroup
Julian Arrington is an architect and multidisciplinary storyteller whose work explores the intersection of design, culture, and emerging technologies. Drawing from his experience leading museum and cultural projects, he will discuss how AI can expand creative possibilities while reinforcing the importance of human judgment, context, and design authorship.

Michael Ezban, RA, ASLA - Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC)
Michael Ezban is an architect, educator, and researcher studying the impact of generative AI on architectural education. His work examines how AI is reshaping design thinking, studio pedagogy, and preparation of future architects for professional practice.

Dr. Nadine Alameh - Founder, LunateAI
Dr. Nadine Alameh is a globally recognized leader in geospatial technologies, digital twins, and AI strategy. She advises organizations around the world on AI transformation and will share lessons on moving from experimentation to implementation, including the growing role of AI-enabled digital twins in the built environment.

Steve Kane, P.E. - Senior Associate and CORE Studio Representative, Thornton Tomasetti

Schedule:

5:30 p.m. Registration & Networking

6:00 p.m. Panel Presentation and Discussion

7:00 p.m. Panel Q&A

7:30 p.m. Close of event. Join us afterwards for rooftop drinks and networking.

Location: SmithGroup - 1700 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20006. The event will take place in Entry Level Conference Space and will move to rooftop for drinks afterwards.

Learning Objectives (HSW):

Evaluate how AI-assisted tools and digital-twin technologies can support design, analysis, monitoring, and decision-making that affect the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants and communities.
Identify limitations and risks associated with AI-generated design and engineering outputs, including issues of accuracy, bias, data quality, and reliability that may affect project performance and public safety.
Assess the role of professional judgment, quality assurance, and human oversight in validating AI-assisted recommendations and maintaining accountability for design decisions.
Examine how emerging AI applications in architecture, engineering, and intelligent infrastructure may improve resilience, sustainability, lifecycle performance, and risk management across the built environment.

This networking event and panel discussion will be held in partnership with AIA DC.

Volunteer: Howard University Student Structural Challenge (Wednesday, November 04, 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

VOLUNTEER!

Please join us for a Student Structural Challenge with Mola Kits at Howard University.

SEA-MW, the Howard University ASCE Student Chapter, and the Howard University Steel Bridge Team are hosting an evening of engineering, teamwork, and friendly competition. Students will put their creativity and structural problem-solving skills to the test using Mola Model kits in a three-phase challenge:

Phase 1: Hidden Structure Challenge – One team sketches a structure while another team attempts to build it from the sketches. The team with the shortest completion time wins.

Phase 2: Bridge Challenge – Design and construct the longest bridge capable of supporting increasing loads.

Phase 3: Tower Challenge – Build the tallest tower and test its performance on a shake table. The structure that remains standing the longest wins.

When & Where:

November 4, 2026 | 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Innovation Space, Mackey Building, 3 Howard Place, NW, Washington, DC 20059

We are looking for 8 to 10 volunteers to assist student teams and judge the final results of each phase of the competition.

Please register here if you can help volunteer.

SEA-MW upcoming events

Coffee & Carbon (Wednesday, October 07, 2026)

Member Meeting #2: AI in Practice: A Year of Progress in Structural Engineering & Architectural Design (Wednesday, October 21, 2026)

Volunteer: Howard University Student Structural Challenge (Wednesday, November 04, 2026)