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
Principal
mrw@winstanleyarchitects.com
Leejung Hong
Principal
ljh@winstanleyarchitects.com
Mike Balaban
Managing Principal
msb@winstanleyarchitects.com
George Eisenberger
Principal
gre@winstanleyarchitects.com
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MetroStage, led by Carolyn Griffin, is a nonprofit theatre company dedicated to producing an eclectic season of classic and contemporary plays and musicals that are chosen to enrich, enlighten, and entertain, and that reflect the diverse population of the Washington metropolitan area.
After 19 years on North Royal St, @metrostage is preparing for its next chapter—a new permanent home on North Fairfax Street in Alexandria’s Old Town North Arts District.
Winstanley Architects & Planners are leading the build out the new 120 seat 10,000 sf theatre, including the stage, seating, lighting, sound, backstage dressing rooms, a box office, concessions, accessible entrances, and more. Together, we are creating another intimate theatre venue for MetroStage to continue to offer the engaging, uncompromising artistry and award-winning entertainment to the Alexandria community.
Helping make this new home possible, @carrprop has provided MetroStage with an extraordinary 30-year rent-free lease within its Venue development.
You can help MetroStage help complete the Capital Campaign with a contribution. There are still naming opportunities. Call 703-548-9044 or email info@metrostage.org for more details.
Client: @metrostage
Architect: @winstanleyarchitects
Structural Engineer: @gpi1966
MEP Engineer: SSA Engineering
Lighting Designer: @cmkling_
Theater Designer: @pixelumenlab
Acoustic Consultant: Polysonics
General Contractor: Quattro Construction
#AlexandriaArts #AlexandriaVA #OldTownArt #MetroStage
Aug 27
📍The Campagna Center
@campagnacenter is Alexandria’s leading not-for-profit organization, equipping children and families with a comprehensive set of tools they need to thrive and succeed.
Since 1945, Campagna Center has served the community by offering a range of programs that foster a dedication to learning among children, youth, and adults. Over 2,000 children and families take advantage of their services on a daily basis.
The building, constructed in 1888, was once part of the Alexandria City Public Schools system. The renovation, led by @winstanleyarchitects, included renovating the entire interior and restoring the exterior of the historic structure.
A major benefit from the renovation includes raising the first floor by 18” which created a more usable basement level. Additionally, a new courtyard has been created on the north side of the building, extending the usability of the basement level to include an outdoor recreation area. The project also included replacing all windows around the building, creating a new accessible entrance at the main doorway, and adding a new eastern entrance.
The first floor has been transformed into a dynamic program space—bringing the signature programs of Campagna Center under the roof of the South Washington building for the first time in the organization’s history. Private meeting rooms are available for participants to discuss their needs and learn more about the array of programs offered. Large and small classrooms can be used by early childhood education, school age, and adult programs. The second floor has consolidated administrative areas and allows staff to work together to serve their participants.
We are proud to amplify the mission of @campagnacenter and to help support the community through thoughtful design.
Thank you to @pizzanocontractors for their work executing this project.
#OldTownHistory #AlexandriaHistory #CampagnaCenter
Aug 25
Inside the latest issue of ArchitectureDC magazine: Whitman Walker’s Max Robinson Center is highlighted for its “meaningful,” “welcoming,” and “crisply-executed” design, along with other community assets across DC.
We are proud to have led the design of the Max Robinson Center’s core and shell, with @perkinswill_dc leading the interior design for the clinic.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to equity and uplifting communities like Ward 8 and the population served by @whitmanwalker. As @michael.winstanley is quoted in the article, “This is architecture in support of public benefit.”
Read the full article online or look out for your print copy of ArchitectureDC’s Summer issue!
@redbricklmd
@anice_hoachlander
#DCArchitecture #HealthcareDesign #Architecture
Aug 18
Saturday, Leejung Hong and Harrison Blair led a hard hat tour with Sean Figgins from Whiting-Turner for the @nationalbuildingmuseum of the Mansly, an adaptive reuse project in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.
The group met at Winstanley Architects & Planners’ office on King Street before Bill Conkey, the City of Alexandria’s Preservation Architect, led a walking tour along King Street to the Mansly.
The Mansly is a mixed-use adaptive reuse and infill project that consolidates and repositions two underutilized properties into a single, cohesive building that reinforces the character, scale, and continuity of one of Old Town’s most prominent commercial corridors.
The development combines the renovation of existing historic structures with new construction carefully integrated behind and above the retained street-facing fabric. This approach allows the project to preserve the established rhythm of King Street while accommodating a contemporary residential program that would not otherwise be possible within the constraints of the existing buildings alone. The program includes 24 residential units located on the upper floors, positioned above approximately 6,400 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
The resulting composition balances preservation with strategic intervention, using massing, setbacks, and material transitions to mediate between old and new.
Thank you to everyone who brought such engaging questions to the tour!
The Mansly | 615-621 King Stret
General Contractor: Whiting-Turner
Architect: @winstanleyarchitects
Owner: @silvermangroup
Special thanks to @alexandriavagov Dept of Planning & Zoning and OHA
#AlexandriaArchitecture #OldTownAlexandria #OldTown #AlexandriaVA
Aug 11
Our award-winning academic portfolio is grounded in a commitment to supporting both academic success and student wellbeing.
Through thoughtful design and extensive engagement with campus communities, our designs reflect the evolving expectations for student life.
Featured projects:
Byrnes, Hayden, and Henle Halls | Georgetown University
Mullins Hall | Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Mary Graydon Center Dining Hall | American University
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
#academicarchitecture #campusplanning #architecturaldesign
Jul 8
The Winstanley Architects & Planners team enjoyed a delicious lunch at @cutdc at the @rosewoodwashingtondc - a great way to celebrate our hard work onsite over the years!
The main hotel property includes 48 rooms along with premium dining and lounge facilities, and is located on one of the most desirable sites in Georgetown. Winstanley Architects & Planners also led the adaptive reuse of 14 historic townhouses adjacent to the hotel, now part of the hotel’s room offerings.
Don’t miss an opportunity to stay at the Rosewood Washington DC if you’re visiting, or swing by CUT D.C. by Wolfgang Puck for lunch, dinner, or an evening drink on the rooftop. 🥂
#GeorgetownRestaurants #GeorgetownDC #WashingtonDC #DCArchitecture #AdaptiveReuse
Jun 29
