BarnesVanze Architects
Architecture and PlanningDistrict of Columbia, United States11-50 Employees
Barnes Vanze Architects is a Washington, DC-based architectural and interior-design practice founded in 1989 by Anthony 'Ankie' Barnes and Stephen Vanze. The firm guides clients through all design stages, from initial concepts to final walkthrough, across residential, commercial, educational, and religious settings. In 2018, four new principals—Wayne Adams, Melanie Giordano, Ellen Hatton, and Michael Patrick—joined leadership to oversee a mid-sized studio based in Georgetown. Their work spans restoring historic city dwellings, infusing new homes with classical references, and transforming builder-grade houses into historically accurate designs, with layouts tailored to clients’ daily routines. The practice extends its meticulous approach to commercial and institutional projects, including rehabilitation and additions to historic properties, and shaping university and school facilities that respect their surroundings. The firm has earned multiple awards, including the John Russell Pope award from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and Traditional Building’s Palladio awards, as well as the DC Chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ Awards for Excellence; its principals hold Fellow status in the American Institute of Architects and the work has been widely covered in regional publications.