deSIGN
stories that inspire
We are an integrative deSIGN studio bringing decades of deSIGN leadership to you.
We blend visionary deSIGN with the latest technology to deliver you with innovative solutions. Additionally, we bring our network of resources and talent to create a one-of-a-kind deSIGN solution that fits your needs.
Our mission is to create iconic deSIGN founded on timeless principles o better our world…
deSIGN has the power to…
- Inspired and elevate
- Transform our culture
- Shape our understanding of ourselves…
we believe that deSIGN should always be memorable and beloved.
Thus, we create elegant and impactful deSIGN that excite your senses.
ILIAD TERRA
Managing Principal
25+ years of award-winning integrated deSIGN leadership.
ILIAD TERRA
Managing Principal
Iliad brings more than 25 years of award-winning, multidisciplinary and integrated design leadership
Architecture + Planning Team
Dean Ventola
Principal, alfa8-arch
Dean is an award winning architect and Principal at alfa8-architecture, with decades of successful practice in Maryland and throughout the East Coast.
Peter Samton
Senior Advisor
Peter is a renowned architect with an exemplary legacy of practice in New York and brings a deep bench of experience to the team.
Lloyd Bernstein
Director of Cost Assessment
Lloyd brings more than 45 years of construction and costs analytic experience to our team, assisting in our predevelopment and pre-construction strategy.
Richard Donally
Senior Advisor
Richard brings over 40 years of award-winning legacy experience in planning, architectural design, and construction techniques serving an exemplary list of clients in the greater Washington metro region.
SELECT PROJECTS
GRAMERCY
Loudoun County, Virginia
alfa8 architects collaborated with Minh Le to envision, design, and develop 22 Capital Partners’ project, Gramercy District, in Loudoun County, Virginia. The project is one of the first Smart Districts in the Washington, D.C., metro region, featuring 2.5 SF of mixed-used TOD program at the Terminus of Silver Line Metro.
The project team included Iliad Terra and Richard Donnally as the lead designers, with Bowman Consulting, AECOM, DVA Architects, 22 Capital Partners, and other market leaders collaborating for the success of Gramercy District.
AL ARABIYA
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Creating Luxury Travel Destinations Worldwide
Sited at the Al Amaariya district, northwest of Riyadh, on ~30 acres within 800 acres of private land planned as a sustainable smart city. The location enjoys abundant natural resources, including access to wind corridors and aquifers that creates a destination.
CALT
Arnold, Maryland
Anne Arundel Community College’s Center for Applied Learning & Technology (CALT) is an award-winning 97,000 SF $19.5M project that created a modern educational facility and environment for students.
OASIS
West Dallas, Texas
alfa8 developed a comprehensive master plan and designed anchor projects for Khraish Khraish in West Dallas to assist the development team in securing the real estate west of Trinity River. The visioning campaign helped change the narrative for West Dallas and created a strong platform for aligned city officials in support of the project.
The Five Point plan envisioned by Khraish revitalizes West Dallas, safeguards the rights of local residents and fosters investment and economic growth for the OWD community.
LEXINGTON
1488 Lexington Ave
New York, NY
Dragonfly is an innovative student housing project designed and developed by alfa8 in collaboration with Pizzarotti-IBC to develop the narrow property on Lexington Avenue as a modern student housing facility for City University of New York. alfa8 designed a unique cantilevered site that took advantage of the negotiated air rights above the adjoining church and created an iconic concept.
A core feature of the concept of the dragonfly project is alfa8 technology integration, which deeply examines that pedagogical and educational experience for students and the content creators, and institutions.
The project has 22 stories, including a premium rooftop amenity space, and features a signature dragonfly lecture halls where students can engage in mixed reality and crowd learning platforms.
ARMADA TOWERS
Dubai, UAE
The Armada Towers is a signature project for the Armada Group portfolio of assets, located along Jumeirah Lakes. The development consists of 2400 square meters of mixed-use residential space located on 39 floors reaching a height of 167 meters. alfa8 acted as an investment resource and program management for the project, ensuring quality and safeguarding our investors’ interest throughout project execution. Dr. Michael Krause led the alfa8 team in the overall planning, project management, and coordination for the towers, which were part of the earlier phase of real estate development along with the Jumeirah Lake Towers JLT communities.
AON
Rockville, Maryland
A mixed-use development initiative by alfa8’s capital partners to develop an industrial zone along the red metro line east of Rockville Town Center. We envisioned to make the site a destination with the development of Maker Row – wide sidewalks to promote pop-up trade that builds the industrious history of the site, creating a vibrant hub for the local community.
MODULAR
Prefabricated Homes
alfa8 specializes in designing modular residence units, utilizing prefabricated interlocking components for scaled and adaptable requirements. This system affords clients a range of options tailored to budget and can be phased for expansion.
We utilize 3D printing and rapid prototyping tools to design and develop concepts with current manufacturing capabilities while innovating in the construction space. alfa8 is actively working with our manufacturing and public sector partners to advance market penetration of modular and manufactured buildings.
DATA CENTERS
Next Generation Mission Critical
20,000,000+ sf of successfully planned, designed, and engineered data centers delivered in the DC Metro region & worldwide, alfa8 has a demonstrable history of excellence in the data center space. In collaboration with DVA Architects.
2800
Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia
alfa8 designed and managed the award-winning $1.5M commercial repositioning project for Akridge; winning Virginia NAIOP award in 2015. In collaboration with DVA Architects.
CODA
Half Street
Washington, DC
The project is being developed by MRP Realty, a premier Washington Metro Region Developer creating landmark residential communities.
1426K
K Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia
alfa8 and Iliad Terra were the initial concept development and design team for this project, where we developed the first floor to ceiling glass office building in Washington, DC for aFrench developer, and consequently for Ackridge, with Richard Donnally and DVA Architects acting as the architects of record
SELECT PROJECTS
GRAMERCY
Loudoun County, Virginia
alfa8 architects collaborated with Minh Le to envision, design, and develop 22 Capital Partners’ project, Gramercy District, in Loudoun County, Virginia. The project is one of the first Smart Districts in the Washington, D.C., metro region, featuring 2.5 SF of mixed-used TOD program at the Terminus of Silver Line Metro.
The project team included Iliad Terra and Richard Donnally as the lead designers, with Bowman Consulting, AECOM, DVA Architects, 22 Capital Partners, and other market leaders collaborating for the success of Gramercy District.
AL ARABIYA
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Creating Luxury Travel Destinations Worldwide
Sited at the Al Amaariya district, northwest of Riyadh, on ~30 acres within 800 acres of private land planned as a sustainable smart city. The location enjoys abundant natural resources, including access to wind corridors and aquifers that creates a destination.
CALT
Arnold, Maryland
Anne Arundel Community College’s Center for Applied Learning & Technology (CALT) is an award-winning 97,000 SF $19.5M project that created a modern educational facility and environment for students.
OASIS
West Dallas, Texas
alfa8 developed a comprehensive master plan and designed anchor projects for Khraish Khraish in West Dallas to assist the development team in securing the real estate west of Trinity River. The visioning campaign helped change the narrative for West Dallas and created a strong platform for aligned city officials in support of the project.
ARMADA TOWERS
Dubai, UAE
The Armada Towers is a signature project for the Armada Group portfolio of assets, located along Jumeirah Lakes. The development consists of 2400 square meters of mixed-use residential space located on 39 floors reaching a height of 167 meters.
alfa8 acted as an investment resource and program management for the project, ensuring quality and safeguarding our investors’ interest throughout project execution.
AON
Rockville, Maryland
A mixed-use development initiative by alfa8’s capital partners to develop an industrial zone along the red metro line east of Rockville Town Center. We envisioned to make the site a destination with the development of Maker Row – wide sidewalks to promote pop-up trade that builds the industrious history of the site, creating a vibrant hub for the local community.
MODULAR
Prefabricated Homes
alfa8 specializes in designing modular residence units, utilizing prefabricated interlocking components for scaled and adaptable requirements. This system affords clients a range of options tailored to budget and can be phased for expansion.
We utilize 3D printing and rapid prototyping tools to design and develop concepts with current manufacturing capabilities while innovating in the construction space. alfa8 is actively working with our manufacturing and public sector partners to advance market penetration of modular and manufactured buildings.
DATA CENTERS
Next Generation Mission Critical
20,000,000+ sf of successfully planned, designed, and engineered data centers delivered in the DC Metro region & worldwide, alfa8 has a demonstrable history of excellence in the data center space. In collaboration with DVA Architects.
2800
Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria Virginia
alfa8 designed and managed the award-winning $1.5M commercial repositioning project for Akridge; winning the Virginia NAIOP award in 2015. In collaboration with DVA Architects.
146K
K Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia
alfa8 and Iliad Terra were the initial concept development and design team for this project, where we developed the first floor to ceiling glass office building in Washington, DC for a French developer, and consequently for Ackridge, with Richard Donnally and DVA Architects acting as the architects of record
CODA
Half Street
Washington, DC
The project is being developed by MRP Realty, a premier Washington Metro Region Developer creating landmark residential communities.