Architecture + Cities + Communities + Service to Society +
For more than four decades, Dennis Findley, FAIA, has worked across multiple scales of the built environment, from individual buildings to large-scale urban and infrastructure projects that shape cities and communities. His work explores how buildings, public space, and major civic interventions influence how people live and how places evolve, function, and endure.
That same design intelligence has extended beyond the built environment into the systems that shape everyday life. In Virginia, over more than two decades, his work has contributed to changes in policies, programs, and laws—informing reform in other states and contributing to national initiatives. In 2026, the American Institute of Architects elevated him to the College of Fellows for his work in service to society, recognition that architecture’s reach extends well beyond buildings.
330
PROJECTS
6
CONTINENTS
YEARS PRACTICE
40+
YEARS of CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
20+
SELECTED WORK
The American Legion Bridge I-495
VISION WORKS DESIGN LAB
A new approach to one of the Washington region’s most critical infrastructure challenges. Rather than replacing the existing bridge or building beside it, this concept adds capacity within the corridor itself—introducing a four-lane HOV span supported by a cable-stayed system anchored to a single bowstring arch above. The result maintains continuous operation, minimizes land impact, and establishes a bold, memorable new regional landmark.
Massachusetts General Hospital
FEASIBILITY STUDY AND 20-YEAR MASTER PLAN
A long-range planning effort for one of the nation’s leading medical institutions, addressing campus growth, circulation, and integration with the surrounding city. Dennis Findley was the project architect responsible for developing the master plan, including detailed design studies for the adaptive reuse of the historic Suffolk County Jail—later realized as the Liberty Hotel—and planning frameworks that continue to guide the hospital’s expansion.
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Central McLean Reimagined ™
VISION WORKS DESIGN LAB
Central McLean Reimagined™ is a conceptual master plan for the commercial heart of McLean, Virginia. It introduces a walkable, mixed-use town center organized around a central park, civic spaces, and a connected network of streets and public places—transforming a fragmented suburban landscape into a cohesive and active community core.
ABOUT
Dennis Findley, FAIA, founded Studio Findley Design in 2015, following more than three decades of practice in architecture and urban design. His work has been shaped by a consistent engagement with both the design of individual places and the broader structure of cities and communities.
Dennis has served in appointed civic roles related to planning, design review, and community development, applying architectural thinking to public decision-making about the form and future of communities.
For more than two decades, he has worked in Virginia to advance policy, programs, and legislation affecting individuals with disabilities and their families—efforts that have informed reform in other states and contributed to national and federal policy conversations. His public engagement has included a run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District in 2010.
Dennis was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2026 for his work in service to society. He served as Chair of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities from 2024–2025. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University, where he graduated First in Class, and a Master of Architecture with Distinction from Harvard University.
"The built environment shapes how people live, move, and relate—often without notice.
That invisibility is architecture's quiet power. At its best, design brings order to complexity, strengthens community, and creates places that inspire, delight, and endure."
Dennis Findley, FAIA
CONNECT
WASHINGTON, DC
Studio Findley Design
1045 Clover Drive
McLean, Virginia 22101
+1 (703) 821-1668