About the author

Hello. My name is Neil Flanagan.

I am an author and licensed architect in my hometown, Washington, D.C. Since 2009, I have interpreted our built environment for outlets such as The Atlantic, Washington City Paper, the Architects’ Newspaper, and Greater Greater Washington. I have spoken about my research at numerous local venues as well as academic conferences like the Society for American City and Regional Planning History (SACRPH) and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). I am a graduate of the Yale School of Architecture and in my practice I have specialized in building systems integration and code compliance for highly sustainable buildings, such as the headquarters of the American Geophysical Union. I am also deeply interested in color perception, regenerative design, and the culture of South Asia.

My other major project is the construction of a new modern facility for the District of Columbia's own archives. I co-founded and serve as Treasurer of the DC Archives Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting the District's documentary heritage through fundraising and advocacy.

The DC Commission on the Art and Humanities has been a sponsor of my research since 2018. Since 2023, I have been Humanities Scholar-in-Residence at the Heurich House Museum in Dupont Circle. Book a tour, or come by our biergarten.