Staff
Melanie Hartwig-Davis
AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD + C
Principal / CEO
Melanie Hartwig-Davis is often described as an “Architect Activist”. She is a passionate advocate for resilient, sustainable design and has sought to improve the lives of others through her creative, thoughtful and diverse design practice for over 20 years. Melanie’s passion has led her to be an effective team leader, team builder and quite simply a person who ‘gets the job done’. In addition to her successful architectural practice, she maintains leadership roles in the community by serving on planning and visionary committees within the county and state.
John Richards
Senior Project Designer
John C Richards is our senior designer at HD Squared Architects, commenced his architectural career in 1998, garnering rich expertise in diverse fields such as residential, commercial, institutional, and religious architecture, alongside commercial interiors, historic renovations, adaptive reuse, and local government projects. Notably, his contributions have graced award-winning projects like the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, Wyoming Avenue Condominiums, and a DC-based Design Studio, which secured the AIA|DC Chapter Award of Merit in Architecture. With a strong belief in collaborative design, Mr. Richards focuses on fostering client relationships to deliver high-quality, aesthetically pleasing, and functional designs. Passionate about sustainability, he actively integrates building design with the natural landscape, striving for a harmonious coexistence between the constructed and natural environments. Beyond his architectural pursuits, he finds joy in travel and cycling, frequently participating in charity fundraising events supporting various causes.
Diana Silbert
Architectural Intern
Diana Silbert joined HD Squared as an architecture intern in 2021. Her role involves contributing across all project phases, with a specific emphasis on as-builts. Apart from her professional commitments, she invests her time in exploring architecture as an art form, using tools like oil paints and 3D printing to infuse her designs with an energetic and vibrant character.
