As an architect and interior designer with a deep interest in historic preservation, Katie Irwin, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP is a principal at Quinn Evans in the Washington, DC office. A native of New Jersey, she came down to the University of Maryland and received a dual degree with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, immediately followed by a Master of Architecture with a Certificate in Historic Preservation. Though honed in her college years, her interest in historic buildings began with childhood trips to Victorian house museums and the summer “cottages” of the Gilded Age. Katie worked as an intern at Quinn Evans, known for its architectural expertise in historic preservation and sustainable design, for a couple summers and never left!
Serving as the Heritage practice area’s external leader at Quinn Evans, Katie is keenly aware of how existing buildings and historic context are more than just the civic icons but also the diverse communities that make up the full story of the history of a place. She is a licensed architect and interior designer with a deep interest in historic interiors, particularly those of the early 20th century. Throughout her career she has had an interest and developed an expertise with historic interiors. This is a blend of her expertise in designing within historic contexts with a focus on the interior environment, whether a restoration or a contemporary design that is complementary to the historic. Soon after becoming a licensed architect, she also became NCIDQ-certified and has worked in the interior design realm including FF&E selection and custom design, with a number of custom designed rugs installed in the DC area. Her personal philosophy towards design is a holistic approach to the space, its finishes, and its furnishings designed with intent together.
Her portfolio includes work for Federal, state, institutional, and higher education clients. She served as the project manager for the award-winning multi-phased restoration of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Constitution Hall (a National Historic Landmark designed by John Russell Pope in Washington, DC) as well as several other preservation and renovation projects at the DAR headquarters. She was also the project architect on the rehabilitation of the National Academy of Sciences (Washington, DC) and the restoration of Old City Hall (a state office building in Richmond, VA). Through working on multiple projects for the Architect of the Capitol, the Department of State Bureaus of Overseas Buildings Operations, and multiple foreign embassy properties in Washington, DC, she has acquired a deep regard for stewardship through architecture and preservation.
Over the years, she has shared outwardly to various groups about case studies, lessons learned, and preservation topics. In the last couple years, provided a webinar titled “Old City Hall: Preservation and the Modern Workplace Design” for NeoCon, led a tour of the National Academy of Sciences for AIA Potomac Valley, presented on DAR’s approaches to three laylights at the Association for Preservation Technology International conference, presented on DAR Constitution Hall at AIA Virginia’s Architecture Exchange conference, and presented on laylights at GSA's Historic Materials Working Group, and presented on Old City Hall on a panel discussion for Historic Richmond.
Since joining the leadership group of the AIA Interior Architecture Knowledge Community, she has appreciated the camaraderie and collective thinking about interior architecture. Also, this year and last, she has been serving as the chair of the AIA Virginia’s Historic Resources Committee after serving as the co-chair in 2023. With the creation of the new Center for Historic Preservation at Virginia Tech, Katie is part of the advisory group. In 2022, she represented AIA to provide witness testimony on “Innovative Workplaces, Historic Spaces: Modernizing the House Office Buildings” to the United States House of Representatives Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. In addition, she served two elected terms on the board of the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) and two appointed terms. Prior to that, she was the president of the Washington, DC chapter of APT and in the preceding years served as vice-president, secretary, and newsletter editor. Where there is crossover between architecture, interior design, and historic preservation, you can be sure to find her!