Summary
- Size:
- 230,000
- Type:
- Apartment Complex
- Definition:
- Renovation
Woodward Building
733 15th Street NW Washington DC 20005 View Map
Description
The Woodward Building project involved the conversion of an early 20th century office building into market rate apartments. As an historic building in the District of Columbia, the project was reviewed by the city's Historic Preservation Review Board, and its location and the pursuit of investment tax credits necessitated federal review by the US Commission of Fine Arts and the National Park Service.
The original 1911 building, designed by Harding & Upman had undergone a nearly seamless addition in 1929 by architect George Ray. A "T"-shaped retail arcade winds through the building at the first floor with small mercantile spaces fronting to both the street and the arcade. The upper floors had previously undergone major modifications to the original configurations, documented in 19111 leasing brochures. They were redesigned completely to create 198 individual apartments.
The base, building lobby, and upper floors were rehabilitated while the distinctive facades were cleaned, stabilized, and restored with the large original wood windows repaired and reconditioned. In addition to the large recess at the center of the building, there is a residential courtyard between the original building and the 1929 addition, executed in similar materials and detailing.
Signage at street level and the original storefronts were restored or recreated from historic photographs. A new restaurant, bakery, and wine shop occupies part of the arcade and most of the retail frontage. Newly designed elevators that reused the ornamental doors and frames, new life safety systems, and new mechanical systems were designed and incorporated.
M+J was also responsible for designing building amenities such as a health club, a business center, and both interior and exterior common recreational space. The architects and structural engineers also created a new two-storey parking garage and new loading and receiving spaces in what had been basement and service spaces.
Participants On This Project
