In 1973, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) moved into its 180,000-square-foot headquarters on New York Avenue, near the White House. The Modernist building was designed by The Architects Collaborative, a firm that counted Walter Gropius among its founders.
Now, more than three decades later, the aging concrete building is slated to undergo its first comprehensive renovation. “The building is 35 years old and it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the systems operational,” explains James Gatsch, FAIA, who is serving as the owner’s rep for the project. Given that the building might be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in the future, the project won¹t entail a dramatic facelift. Instead, it calls for modifications that will make the building more energy efficient, such as new operable, double-paned windows and an interior reconfiguration that allows for increased natural ventilation. Gatsch says they also plan to slightly shrink the first floor to reinstate the building’s original footprint, which was enlarged by an expansion years ago.
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