Meet Peter Miller

of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art

by Robert E. Haywood

Peter Miller is the President of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, Washington Mid-Atlantic Chapter. Through its education and awards programs, the ICAA plays a significant role in our region by promoting excellent design. Publisher Robert Haywood sat down with Mr. Miller to discuss the mission of the ICAA in the Metro DC region.

Robert Haywood: What is the purpose of the ICAA?

Peter Miller: The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art is made up of fifteen regional chapters across the country, including the Washington Mid-Atlantic Chapter. Our mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of classical design, language, and the building arts.

We do this through education: lectures, architectural tours, sketching tours, and a program called New Heights, which is aimed at junior high school students. We also offer the Regional Intensive, primarily for emerging professionals, to teach classical design principles. We believe these principles can inform all kinds of design, whether traditional or modern. It’s very much like studying classical music to play jazz, or classical art to create modern art, or learning Latin to become a strong linguist.

We’re an educational nonprofit with that mission at the core.

RH: What is your role, and how did you get involved?

PM: I’m the president of the Washington Mid-Atlantic Chapter and a former board member of the National Board. Professionally, I’m a business media executive. I work with magazines like Traditional Building, Period Homes, New Old House Journal, Fine Homebuilding, and I produce a conference for architects and designers called The Tradition.

There’s a close connection between my professional work and the mission of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art—both in terms of content and audience.

RH: How do you define classicism?

PM: At its core, classicism is about symmetrical proportion—what some call the golden triangle, a geometric principle. It involves proper massing, the right scale—particularly human scale—and the use of quality natural materials that endure and weather well.

It’s a bit harder to define when it comes to interior design, but we often see a fusion: classical principles like symmetry and proportion paired with cleaner, more modern lines. Common elements are rich textures and timeless colors. It’s about design that feels enduring.

RH: Some people assume that if you embrace classical principles, you’re anti-modern. How do you respond to that assumption?

PM: The ICAA is all about education. We’re not mandating a particular style—we’re not the style police. We don’t believe something is “wrong” if it doesn’t have a Doric column. We appreciate all good design. But we also believe good design is best informed by classical training.

Again, think of it like studying Latin—not to speak it, but because it gives you the foundation to learn Romance languages more effectively. Classicism is a discipline, a language, a way of seeing.

In fact, many modern designers admire classical principles, and a lot of them are classically trained. Unfortunately, most architecture schools today are focused solely on modernism. They often don’t even teach hand drawing anymore—whereas classical training values drawing by hand, even watercolor renderings.

The ICAA exists partly because that classical language isn’t being taught anymore. But we’re not anti-modern. We’re pro-well-thought-out design.

THE WINNERS

John Russell Pope Awards 2025
ICAA Washington Mid-Atlantic

Arentz Landscape Architects
Project: Woodside | Award: Landscape

Kimmel Studio Architects
Project: Cloverfields | Award: Landscape

Michael Watkins Architect
Project: West Weber | Award: Urban Design

Christian Zapatka Architect, PLLC
Project: Georgetown Urban Design Project | Award: Urban Design

3North
Project: Warm Springs Pools | Award: Historic Preservation

Steven W. Spandle Architect LLC
Project: The White House Tennis Pavilion | Award: Follies

David M. Schwarz Architects
Project: Orion Amphitheater | Award: Commercial

Erica Burns Interiors
Project: Bull Run | Award: Interior Design – Residential

Thomas Pheasant Interiors
Project: The Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room Redecoration | Award: Interior Design – Commercial & Residential

Wouter Boer Architects
Project: St. Michaels Retreat | Award: Residential New Construction – Over 5,000 sq. ft.

Wiedemann Architects LLC
Project: Gatekeeper’s Cottage at Skipton Heritage | Award: Residential New Construction – Under 5,000 sq. ft.

Charles Paul Goebel, Architect, Ltd.
Project: Avondale | Award: Residential Renovation

John Canning & Co., Ltd.
Project: Mellon Auditorium Restoration | Award: Design & Craftsmanship

Perkins Eastman Architects
Project: Garvey Hall | Award: Institutional

Pellettieri Stone Carvings
Project: Decorative Sculptural Stone Carvings on the façade of Saint Rita’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia | Award: Artisanship

McCrery Architects
Project: Baptismal Font at Church of the Holy Spirit | Award: Artisanship

Richard Williams Architects
Project: All Souls Memorial Garden at Washington National Cathedral | Award: Ecclesiastical

Read on to learn more about one of the winners of the 2025 ICAA John Russell Pope Awards here.

Meet Peter Miller – ICAA