The Octagon has been tied to our nation’s history since 1799. Located at 1799 New York Avenue in Washington, DC, it was designed by the first architect of the United States Capitol, William Thornton, and served for six months as the White House after the 1814 Burning of Washington. Recognizing The Octagon’s national importance, the AIA established its national headquarters on-site in 1898 and restored the building as one of the country’s earliest preservation projects. Now owned by the Architects Foundation, The Octagon serves as a beacon in the Nation’s Capital for the Architects Foundation’s work as the philanthropic partner of the AIA to promote an inclusive profession, and is open to the public as a museum and exhibit space.

MMD worked with the Architects Foundation on the brand identity for the museum and the Octagon Alliance. Using a color palette that compliments the AIA brand colors, MMD created a mark as part of the new logo that conveys the rich history of the building with a visual symbolism referencing its name, and most importantly provides an illustrative reference to the mission of the Foundation. The interlocking graphics that make up the mark represent the Foundation's vision is to work towards a more inclusive profession.

With a renewed focus on equity and moving our profession forward, The Octagon continues to inspire current and future architects, highlighting important moments and movements in American and architectural history.

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