About
Winstanley Architects & Planners is a design studio specializing in projects of distinction that stand out for their design excellence, cultural relevance, and environmental responsibility. As innovators in design and technical execution, we pride ourselves on transforming our client’s ambitious visions into reality. Our work is frequently celebrated by peers and recognized through design awards, reflecting our commitment to excellence. With a deep understanding of the complexities of the built environment, we know how to get buildings constructed and master plans approved, ensuring success at every stage of the process.
Founded in 2004 by architect and planner Michael Winstanley AIA AICP, our firm champions a generalist approach, leveraging the cross-pollination of building typologies and construction techniques to deliver exceptional design in today’s fast-evolving environment.
Our portfolio spans academic, hospitality, workplace, residential, and public/civic projects, reflecting the breadth of our capabilities.
Our multidisciplinary approach—encompassing architecture, planning, and interior design—ensures that clients benefit from a fully integrated and cohesive design process. By uniting these three disciplines, we deliver results that are not only aesthetically compelling but also deeply functional, contextually appropriate, and sustainable. The diversity of our practice translates directly into richer, more effective solutions for our clients, who benefit from the breadth and depth of our experience.
Washington D.C. Design Workshop.
Our Washington, D.C. workshop is the cornerstone of Winstanley Architects & Planners, where our practice first began and our collaborative, cross-disciplinary design process was refined. Located in the historic Old Town neighborhood, this studio exemplifies our commitment to creating projects that respect and reflect the rich cultural and historical context of their surroundings.
Specializing in academic design, campus planning, and mixed-use urban infill within historic environments, this workshop integrates a deep understanding of placemaking with the unique cultural and architectural character of each site. Our work in nationally recognized historic districts such as Alexandria, VA, and Georgetown, DC, demonstrates our ability to design for the past, present, and future, blending contemporary needs with historical preservation.
Miami Design Workshop
With a growing portfolio in hospitality and a commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change, Miami became a natural choice for the next chapter in our journey. Perfectly positioned at the crossroads of innovation and necessity, Winstanley’s Wynwood workshop is shaping the future of Miami’s thriving urban landscape while contributing meaningfully to the global conversation on sustainable and climate-conscious design
This studio specializes in creating hospitality-focused designs that respond thoughtfully to coastal environments, balancing luxury and functionality with sustainability and resilience. In tackling the critical challenges posed by climate change, our Miami team develops forward-thinking solutions that address rising sea levels, extreme weather, and long-term environmental impacts.
Michael Winstanley
Design Director
mrw@winstanleyarchitects.com
Leejung Hong
Principal
ljh@winstanleyarchitects.com
Mike Balaban
Managing Director
msb@winstanleyarchitects.com
George Eisenberger
Principal
gre@winstanleyarchitects.com
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Four (again). Eight reasons to celebrate. 🏆
This year has been one for the books - and it’s not over yet. For the second time in 2025, we walked away with four AIA Design Awards in one night, this time from the AIA Potomac Valley Chapter. Earlier this year, we celebrated four wins from AIA Northern Virginia, bringing our total to nine AIA awards (yes, nine!).
Each project tells a different story - of history reimagined, communities connected, and places brought back to life through design.
🏙️ The Braystone - Award of Merit (Multifamily)
A once-industrial building transformed through thoughtful adaptive reuse. Steel and brick meet modern extensions, honoring the past while creating a home for what’s next.
🎨 Torpedo Factory Arts Center —-Award of Merit (Unbuilt Architecture)
A bold re-envisioning of a waterfront landmark. By carving light deep into the heart of the building, the design turns a familiar structure into a vibrant, connected social hub for art and community.
🌳 Hillandale Pavilion - Award of Merit (Small Projects)
A simple, open-air pavilion that invites everyday gathering - picnics, play, conversation - giving a community a stage to belong.
🏘️ Rosewood Townhouses - Commendation (Commercial)
A quiet transformation in Georgetown. Behind preserved historic facades, new life emerges - proof that modern living and timeless character can coexist beautifully.
From concept to completion (and in one case, still on the drawing board), these projects share a common thread: design that respects its context and enriches its community.
We’re honored by the recognition - and even more inspired to keep creating spaces that tell meaningful stories.
#WinstanleyArchitects #WinstanleyArchitectsAndPlanners #WinstanleyDesign #DCDesign #AIAAwards #ArchitectureDesign #AdaptiveReuse #DesignExcellence #AIApotomacValley #AIA2025 #AwardWinningDesign #CommunityThroughDesign
Oct 28
The future of architecture is here, and Winstanley Architects & Planners is leading the way with our Edgewater residential tower. Using an exoskeletal honeycomb structure, we’ve created a building that’s not just about aesthetic beauty but about resilience and sustainability as well. Exoskeletal systems, which rely on external frameworks to bear the load, offer unparalleled strength and efficiency.
In our design, the honeycomb pattern distributes forces evenly, making the structure highly resistant to the region’s extreme weather, including Category 5 hurricanes. The elimination of internal columns opens up vast, flexible floor plans - each offering 5,000 sq. ft. of living space. These designs also minimize material use, reduce costs, and lower energy consumption, proving that innovative architecture can be both functional and eco-friendly. From structural integrity to visual impact, this tower showcases the future of resilient, sustainable design.
#WinstanleyArchitectsAndPlanners #WinstanleyArchitects #WinstanleyDesign #Winstanley #InnovativeArchitecture #SouthFloridaHomes #ExoskeletalDesign #ResilientStructures #SustainableLiving #HurricaneProof #ArchitecturalInnovation #LuxuryResidences #HexagonalDesign #ModernArchitecture
Apr 28
Winstanley Architects & Planners is pushing the boundaries of modern living with our Edgewater residential tower, which incorporates an advanced exoskeletal honeycomb structure. This innovative design eliminates the need for internal columns, allowing for expansive, column-free 5,000 sq. ft. floor plans that create a sense of openness and freedom. The hexagonal pattern of the exoskeleton optimizes the building’s strength by evenly distributing forces, making it highly resistant to extreme weather, including Category 5 hurricanes.
Exoskeletal buildings, like this one, provide more than just structural benefits - they also enhance energy efficiency by integrating shading elements and improving airflow. Our approach to design balances form and function, ensuring that the tower is not only a secure and sustainable living space but also an iconic, visually striking addition to the South Florida skyline.
#WinstanleyArchitectsAndPlanners #WinstanleyArchitects #WinstanleyDesign #Winstanley #ExoskeletalArchitecture #SouthFloridaLiving #LuxuryRealEstate #HurricaneResilience #SustainableDesign #InnovativeArchitecture #WinstanleyArchitects #HexagonalDesign #ModernLiving #ArchitecturalExcellence #LuxuryHomes
Apr 25
At Winstanley Architects & Planners, we`re continuing our pursuit of great architecture by embracing the power of exoskeletal design. The exoskeletal design offers more than striking aesthetics; it enhances structural resilience, maximizes interior flexibility, and improves energy performance by integrating shading and daylight strategies. At its core, it redefines modern architecture by uniting expressive form with functional innovation, creating a dynamic and enduring statement that responds to both environmental and spatial demands.
The Wynwood Hotel exemplifies how structural innovation can harmonize with aesthetic intent. At the core of the design is the use of geometric concrete breeze blocks, which inspired the building’s architectural language. These blocks, rooted in South Florida’s mid-century vernacular, serve both structural and visual functions—enhancing natural ventilation, providing privacy, and creating a distinct identity. By elevating this utilitarian material into a primary design feature, the hotel maintains a strong connection to Wynwood’s industrial past while embracing a contemporary, climate-responsive approach.
#WinstanleyArchitectsAndPlanners #WinstanleyArchitects #WinstanleyDesign #Winstanley #WynwoodHotel #ExoskeletalDesign #MiamiDesign
Apr 23
Progress pictures from Henle Village at @georgetownuniversity! We are so excited for the students of Georgetown to be able to enjoy this amazing project soon.
Apr 1
1616 King Street – Tracery as Elegance & Utility.
At 1616 King Street, tracery is reimagined as a defining architectural feature that crowns the building with both elegance and utility. Inspired by the intricate wrought ironwork found throughout Old Town Alexandria—a National Historic Landmark District—the metal mesh forms a modern cornice that provides privacy and solar shading for the penthouse level. This reinterpretation of traditional detailing transforms the top of the building into a light, transparent screen that softens its profile while adding rhythm and texture. Functioning as both ornament and performance, the tracery bridges the historical character of the neighborhood with a refined contemporary expression.
The 52-unit condominium project includes the renovation of five historic townhouses along King Street, seamlessly integrating old and new. Set back from the street, the entrance to the new tower is accessed through a landscaped courtyard and framed in modern materials to convey a sense of contemporary living. Rising eight stories above a 56-space parking structure, the building was reviewed and approved by the City of Alexandria’s Board of Architectural Review.
#WinstanleyArchitectsAndPlanners #WinstanleyArchitects #WinstanleyDesign #Winstanley #Architecture
Mar 28
