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WELCOMING OUR 2026
SUMMER TRAVEL FELLOWS
Washington, DC
For more than 25 years, David M. Schwarz Architects has sponsored an annual Summer Internship & Travel Fellowship Award Program, reflecting our belief that experiencing architecture firsthand is an essential part of an architect's education. The program provides talented students with opportunities to expand their academic experience through independent travel, research, and immersion in our firm's collaborative design process and professional environment.
This summer, we have welcomed five outstanding Travel Fellows to our Washington, DC office. Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and institutions, Gabriela Turcios joins us from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she recently completed her first year of the Master of Architecture program after moving from El Salvador. Khadija Kivuvani, originally from Nairobi, Kenya, is pursuing her Master of Architecture in Design and Urbanism at the University of Notre Dame. Joshua Davis, a recent graduate of Howard University, earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Design Studies with a minor in Spanish and brings a passion for thoughtful design from his hometown of Houston, Texas. Na Rye Han joins us from Yale School of Architecture, where she recently completed her Master of Architecture degree, having grown up in South Korea. Completing this year's fellowship class is Paul Zepeda from Olympia, Washington, who is entering the third and final year of his Master of Architecture program at The Catholic University of America.
We look forward to supporting the interns growth while learning from the unique perspectives they each bring to the firm.
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KIDS' PLACE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER OPENS
Fort Worth, Texas
DMSAS is proud to announce the completion of Kids' Place Child Development Center at the Cook Children's Medical Center campus in Fort Worth. The new 25,000-square-foot building features 17 classrooms, enrichment areas, and four playgrounds with a splash pad. We would also like to recognize our outstanding project partners, including Architect of Record HKS Architects, Linbeck Group, Dunaway, and Keller Studio. DMSAS also partnered with Steve Hall of Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty to photograph the completed project, with a couple of highlights featured below.
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MICHAEL SWARTZ SPEAKS AT IMCL CONFERENCE
Riga and Jelgava, Latvia
Principal Michael Swartz presented DMSAS's Alpharetta City Center at the 63rd Annual International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) Conference in Riga and Jelgava, Latvia, highlighting the firm's approach to creating vibrant mixed-use destinations that strengthen community identity and foster long-term economic and civic vitality. In recognition of the project's excellence, Michael and DMSAS also received a 2026 IMCL Livable Cities Award for Alpharetta City Center.
Bringing together design professionals and industry leaders from around the world, the conference focused on how architecture and urban planning can strengthen communities through resilient, sustainable, and people-centered design. Participants exchanged ideas and lessons learned from projects around the globe.
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TEXAS RANGER HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM STUDY CURRENTLY UNDERWAY
Waco, Texas
DMSAS kicked off a feasibility study for the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum in Waco, Texas, in July with two days of walkthroughs, interviews, and worksessions. Led by Principal Josh Arcurio, the study will identify opportunities to enhance the museum's visitor experience, improve exhibit organization and circulation, and strengthen the presentation of the Texas Rangers' history while creating stronger connections to their modern-day role. The recommendations will guide projects in the near-term and provide a long-term strategic vision for this landmark institution.
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CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS AT JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY HALL'S DONOR LOUNGE
Jacksonville, Florida
DMSAS is in construction on a new 5,000-square-foot donor lounge at Jacksonville Symphony Hall in Jacksonville, Florida, that will provide hospitality space for patrons. The design subdivides a large existing room into comfortably scaled spaces including an anteroom, an east alcove, a central lounge anchored by a full-service bar and comfortable seating, and a west alcove featuring built-in banquette seating alongside café-style tables and chairs. Completion is anticipated in October 2026.
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FAITH PRIMOZIC EARNS JURORS
OBSERVATIONAL AWARD
Bass Hall - Fort Worth, Texas
Congratulations to Faith Primozic, whose rendering of Bass Hall received the Jurors Observational Award in the 40th Annual Architecture in Perspective (AIP 40) competition, presented by the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI). The annual competition recognizes excellence in architectural illustration and celebrates outstanding work from artists around the world.
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PRINCIPAL JOSH ARCURIO ATTENDS THE 2026 NIVA CONFERENCE
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The 2026 National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) Conference took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, bringing together more than 1,400 professionals from the independent live music, comedy, venue, festival, and promoter industries. Through presentations and educational sessions, attendees explored topics ranging from venue operations and programming to design and the future of live entertainment. Principal Josh Arcurio attended the conference, where conversations with venue owners, operators, promoters, and industry leaders reinforced the importance of designing venues around authentic audience and artist experiences.
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DMSAS ATTENDS THE 34TH ANNUAL CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM CONFERENCE
Bentonville and Fayetteville, Arkansas
Principals Michael Swartz and Joshua Arcurio attended the 34th Annual Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 34) in Northwest Arkansas. The conference focused on a region experiencing significant growth, highlighting the interconnected communities of Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, and their neighboring towns. The program included educational sessions, workshops, technical assistance projects, and tours that explored topics related to planning, urbanism, and community development.
Prior to the Congress, Josh joined the City Building Express, a bus tour that wound a group of architects, planners, landscape architects, city officials, and advocates through nine cities and towns in Mississippi and Arkansas over just three days. Highlights included a tour of the Cotton District in Starkville led by the Camp family, incremental development and New Urbanist planned communities, and Fay Jones’s Thorncrown Chapel in the Ozark woods.
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CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS CONTINUES AT LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Farmville, Virginia
Construction is progressing steadily at the new Longwood University School of Music, with floor and wall framing for the concert hall now complete through the second floor. This milestone represents continued momentum as work advances on the university's future home for music education and performance. The project is anticipated to be completed in May 2028.
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SPARTANBURG GOVERNMENT CENTER CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Work continues on the new Spartanburg Government Center, with structural framing nearing completion throughout most of the building. Installation of the exterior brick and stone façade is expected to begin this fall, and the project remains on schedule for completion in September 2027.
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FOUR ADDITIONAL SPARTANBURG PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Spartanburg, South Carolina
In addition to the new Spartanburg Government Center, DMSAS is currently advancing construction on four more projects in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina: the 189 W. Main Street Hotel, 189 W. Main Street Office Building, Grain District Office Building, and Magnolia Block Residential Building, with completion of all four anticipated in 2027.
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DMSAS SUMMER PARTY 2026
Washington, DC
DMSAS celebrated another successful year with its annual summer party, once again taking to the Potomac River aboard a City Cruises charter departing from The Wharf. Continuing a favorite firm tradition, colleagues, friends, and family came together for an afternoon of great food, refreshing drinks, and spectacular waterfront views. The celebration provided a wonderful opportunity to relax, reconnect, and enjoy each other's company while recognizing another successful year for the firm.
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TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON
Washington, DC
DMSAS recently welcomed the Deans and Department Chairs from our Travel Fellowship partner universities for a celebratory luncheon at the office, including Mark Ferguson of The Catholic University of America, Phillip Bernstein of Yale University, John Odhiambo Onyango of Howard University, and Mohammad Gharipour of the University of Maryland. Prior to lunch, guests were invited to an open house, where they toured the office and learned more about the firm's current projects and design work. The event provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen our partnerships with participating universities while showing the collaborative culture and work that defines DMSAS.
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