About Encore Sustainable Architects

Architecture, Historic Preservation & Sustainability

At ENCORE, our mission is to detect, restore, create and beautify.

Our Work

Encore is a boutique architecture design firm specializing in historic preservation, adaptive reuse and sustainability. Our team is led by veteran architect W. Ward Bucher, AIA, APT and consists of architects, preservationists and sustainable designers with advanced degrees, licenses and certifications. Among our architecture services, we provide Historic Restoration, Sustainable, Housing, Commercial and Institutional design. We also have developed core competencies in government approvals, historic and sustainability documentation and construction administration services. 

Encore’s Principal Architect, Ward Bucher, is a registered architect in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia with over 50 years of experience with historic, new and green buildings. He uniquely approaches each of his projects with a holistic approach to design. Ward and his teams have worked as lead architect and supporting historic architect on buildings at all levels of historic designation from local to National Historic Landmarks including nonprofits, museums, offices and retail to multi-family housing. Under the Secretary of the Interiors’ Standards and Guidelines, Encore meets the Professional Qualifications for both Architecture and Historic Preservation. 

Over the years, the firm has been awarded numerous honors, including several AIA DC Chapter’s Historic Resources Merit Awards and The Architect's Newspaper Best Design Award for their historic renovation work on the Menokin project. The firm is involved in a variety of architecture and preservation organizations, including the D.C. Preservation League where Bucher was a past president,  Preservation Maryland at which he currently serves on the board and the Easton Historic Commission on which Designer Ernest Demby serves. Community service and pro bono projects, such as the Webb’s Hope house, play an important and consistent role in the culture of the firm.

What Others Are Saying

Olivia Wood, Homeowner

Encore has been a pleasure to work with on our project. Everyone on the team has been respectful, creative, understanding, friendly, and helpful. We always feel as though our project is a priority even though we know that they are busy with many different projects. I highly recommend Encore to anyone who is taking on a project and hoping to work with wonderful professionals!

Poplar Grove

Encore-Sustainable- Architects-Ward-Bucher

W. WARD BUCHER, III
AIA, APT PRINCIPAL

Ward has built a career designing and preserving spaces people love. He has extensive experience in adaptive use of existing buildings throughout the United States and has won numerous awards in his architectural practice. He has helped multiple clients receive millions of dollars in historic tax credits. Ward received his Bachelor of Building Science and his Bachelor of Architecture degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He wrote The Dictionary of Building Preservation and has over 50 years of experience as a registered architect.

We believe that more buildings deserve another chance to perform…
more sustainably and beautifully than originally constructed.

Resources & News

Bel-Air-Archer-Building

Architect Joseph Wojciechowski Appointed to Bel Air Historic Preservation Commission

Architect Joseph "Joe" Wojciechowski Encore Sustainable Architects is excited to share that Architect Joseph "Joe" Wojciechowski has been appointed to ...
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Maryland Historical Trust Honors Project with Excellence in Commercial/Institutional Rehabilitation Award

As part of Preservation Month (May 2022), the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) presented awards for noteworthy accomplishments in the preservation ...
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MEDA-Conference-2022-Panel-Ward-Bucher-Historic-Preservation-Encore-Architects

Panel Discussion: Restoring Community: Preservation as an Economic Driver

Encore Sustainable Architects Ward Bucher moderated a panel at the 2022 Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual Conference. The theme ...
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