This project is located on an important site in downtown Washington, DC., between the city of Washington and the mall. It completes the Federal Triangle, which was conceived as a part of the City Beautiful Movement in the 30's. The tripartite division of the new structures and the use of limestone, granite and tile, imitate the existing buildings and act as unifying elements for the entire complex. The western entrance is removed from 14th street and fronted by a 450 foot facade with colonnaded corners; regulation setbacks and the highly articulated wall surfaces are used as decorative elements. The connecting indoor galleria stretches the height of the building and offers restaurants, retail and exhibition spaces on the lower levels and offices above. The L-shaped plan, a series of open, landscaped courtyards and monumental entrances create public spaces that generate pedestrian traffic. The complex also offers a range of underground transit system. The colonnaded porticos, which act street walls, imbue the project with a sense of continuity and monumentality. The overall effect is that of similar, yet unique components, which both distinguish themselves from the neighborhood and enhance it.

Affiliation: Kohn Pederson Fox, Arthur May, Design Partner