A multi-use project combining residential, arts, retail, and offices occupies the geographic center of Washington D.C.’s commercial core within the Pennsylvania Avenue Historic Site. Midway between the White House and the Capitol, it holds a strategic position linking the private commercial side of the city to the public institutions and cultural facilities of the National Mall. Framing the site are the classical images of the National Gallery, the post office, and various commercial structures from the post-Civil War era.

The project was subjected to intensive review because of the area’s historic significance. Strict limits were placed on the mass and bulk of new construction, restoration of street facades, reconstruction of original storefronts, and new interiors.

A diagonal line was struck across the varied depths of the existing structures, paralleling the street line. The resulting trapezoidal shape gives wedge-like form to the new eight-story building. Brick, paired punched windows, and cast stone band the masonry, while brise-soleil attachments echo details of the adjacent Romanesque building.

The wedge is an armature to which two connecting metal and glass bays are attached directly behind three smaller buildings. Their industrial appearance mirrors the restored cast-iron façade.


People

Owner
Douglas Development Corp.

Architect
Shalom Baranes Associates, PC
3299 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20007
Phone 202-342-2200
Fax 202-342-1569

Shalom Baranes, FAIA
Patrick Burkhart, AIA
Brad Crown, AIA
Ellen Delaney, AIA
Doug Smith
Debbie Holveg
Giorgos Tsappas

Engineer(s)
Structural:
SK&A

MEP:
Schwartz Engineering, Inc.

Civil:
Wiles Mensch Corp

Consultant(s)
Lighting:
MCLA

Historical:
EHT Traceries, Inc.

General Contractor
James G. Davis Construction Corp.

Photographer
Alan Karchmer
ph. 202-244-7511

CAD system, project management, or other software used
AutoCAD R14 usa.autodesk.com

 

Products

Structural system
Existing – Load bearing masonry with wood framed floor systems

New – Cast-In-Place Concrete

Exterior cladding
Masonry:
Brick by Carolina Ceramics and Precast by Sun Precast www.sunprecast.com

Metal/glass curtainwall:
Curtainwall by Accent Metal Services and Glass by Viracon www.viracon.com

Wood Storefront:
Custom Built by Worcester Eisenbrandt
Penthouse

Metal Panels:
Benchmark Architectural Systems www.benchmarkpanels.com

Windows
Wood:
Marvin Windows www.marvin.com

Glazing
Skylights:
Framing by Accent Metal Services and Glass by Viracon Doors www.viracon.com

Doors
Entrances:
Active Industries

Metal doors:
Mohawk www.mohawkdoors.com

Interior finishes
Metal Ceilings:
Chicago Metallic www.chicago-metallic.com

Acoustical ceilings:
Armstrong www.ceilings.com

Suspension grid:
Armstrong www.ceilings.com

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork:
Columbia Woodworking

Paints and stains:
Duron www.duron.com

Wallcoverings:
Lobby – Maya Romanoff; Units – Designtex

Stone Counter Tops:
Ubatuba Plastic laminate: Wilsonart

Floor and wall tile:
Dal-Tile www.daltile.com

Wood Flooring:
Vintage Lumber

Stone Flooring:
Broughton Moor

Ceramic Tile:
Dal-Tile www.daltile.com

Resilient flooring:
allstate

Carpet:
Corridors – Bolyu and Harbinger

Furnishings
Apartment Appliances:
General Electric www.ge.com

Conveyance
Elevators/Escalators:
Thyssen Elevator www.thyssenkruppelevator.com

Plumbing
Kohler Fixtures www.kohler.com