DC Metrocentric

After months of competition, the District has selected the winning design for the new proposed Chuck Brown “father of go-go” Park. The plan for the million dollar development, targeted for completion by this coming summer, is by Marshall Moya Design and centers around a pretty iconic looking wood and steel band stand with a cheery blossom colored interior.

Plans also include more permanent interactive park features like outdoor musical instruments and memorial type information about the life of Chuck Brown and Go-Go culture in general. What do you think of the design?

[Rendering: Marshall Moya Design]

At its monthly meeting today the National Capital Planning Commission finally accepted the SW Ecodistrict Plan that we first got a peek at last summer. The plan proposes to transform the 15-block area just south of the National Mall into a highly sustainable, walkable neighborhood and workplace that connects the National Mall with Washington’s southwest waterfront.

What this really means is that there is now a comprehensive plan that will be used by the NCPC when evaluating and making recommendations for all new development proposals in this area, including the often talked about development over 395 to further connect this area to the waterfront and all the new development that will be going on there over the next few years.

Check out this rendering of a new mixed use, transit oriented project being developed by MRP and AEW as a joint venture right across from the Huntington Metro Station in Alexandria. The six-acre development is designed by SK&I Architects and will include 360 LEED-certified apartments, an 110,000-square-foot hotel and a 260,000 square foot office building.

Construction is planned to start later this year. [Rendering: SK&I]

With the major construction underway at the massive City Center site for over a year now, we are finally starting to see the finishing exterior facades go up and just this week they started hanging all the sky bridges between all six buildings of the 1.3 million sq. ft. development. Buildings are all still on track for a 2013 opening.

Buildings are all still on track for a 2013 opening.

[Photos: DCMetrocentric]

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few weeks (we’ve been out welcoming a few new little DCMetrocentric’s to the world), but we are back and ready to bring you the latest in DC architecture, construction, real estate, and developments in a bigger and better way than ever before, so stay tuned and thanks for your patience and sticking around. As always if you have any questions, comments or tips, shoot us a message @ DCMetrocentric (at) gmail.

[Photo: MBell1975]

Ever since we first saw the great looking plans for Canal Park in Near Southeast, we have been looking forward to the day those ambitious plans were realized, and that day is finally here! Designed by STUDIOS architects the three acre site includes a rain garden, living machine sculpture, restaurant, indoor and outdoor dinning space, and a green roof with the intention of being a “zero energy” structure.

The park is now officially open, so go check it out!

The new mixed use project from Abdo at 14th and Rhodes Island Ave had early ANC approvals earlier this year and plans are apparently moving forward to finalize plans and get the Historic review board approvals which feature the preservation of the current facades along 14th, and then start construction on the 30 unit building.

That top floor penthouse looks like fun, doesn’t it? [Rendering: Abdo]

One of the last undeveloped large block parcels in Clarendon is now a full fledged construction site. What once was (among other things) the site of a bank, a used car lot, and a gravestone store, will soon be 3001 & 3003 Washington Blvd as two separate but connected buildings.

The Noritake Associates designed development includes a 10-story, 200,000 sq-ft office building with complementary architecture incorporating an existing art deco façade and an 8-story, 80,000 sq-fte building adjacent fitting into the triangle lot footprint. The ground level of both buildings will bring 28,000 square feet of retail.

Check out the renderings of how the development will look…

Read the rest of this entry »

The adaptive reuse and restoration project of the old telephone switching station building along 14th is nearing completion and some of the buildings new “loft style” condo units are ready for prime time! The a 36 unit Eric Colbert designed “Northern Exchange” plans full delivery early next year from PN Hoffman, and in an area replete with lots of larger scale apartment buildings, the market is certainly ready for some new condos in this hot neighborhood.

A quick render versus reality comparison shows a close adherence to the original building dating all the way back to 1903… looks good!

Rendering: [PN Hoffman]

When plans for the revitalization and adaptive reuse of the old St Elizabeths east campus hospital were announced there was a big question over how some of the new development would be able to fit into the older buildings while promoting an active and engaging use of the open spaces. The newly released rendering below from Davis Brody Bond gives us a little more of an idea with the Gateway Pavilion design.

The $5 million pavilion makes the most of the open space, with sloping green terraces and ramps, as well as planned space for food trucks and other food vendors to be able to draw people out of the new US Coast Guard HQ opening up next year. We’re excited to see this concept put into practice, and can definitely see this concept being effective in other parts of town as well.

[Rendering: Davis Brody Bond]

It has been over a year since Matchbox took over the space of their newest location along 14th street, and while there is still a lot of work to be done inside, today marked a big milestone with the brand spanking new corner signage going up.

The history of the building is a long one having been everything from a bowling alley and jazz club, to an automobile showroom and even was home to the Arena Stage. Scheduled opening is looking like November.

[Photos: DCMetrocentric]

Now that the Florida Rock site adjacent to Nats stadium is all cleared and developers have had the chance to present their plans for the River Front on the Anacostia to the DC Zoning Commission, the local ANC has also thrown its support behind the project which is still on track to break ground next year (only five years after initial plans started circulating).

Another reason and place for people to go before and after games will be great.

[Renderings: MRP Realty]

Back in 1941 there was a huge construction boom going on downtown fueled by the need for more government offices. The buildings were never designed to last but as you can see still took a huge effort to build. Thankfully the “temporary buildings” were all eventually torn down, reestablishing the continuity of the National Mall that we all know and love! Isn’t it cool how buildings were put together back in the day?

[Credit: Library of Congress via Dullshick]

Though definitely not the first in the District, once complete the new Justice Park development in Columbia Heights will be one of only a handful of specifically designed buildings for the hearing impaired. The 28 unit building designed by Grimm + Parker Architects, will have many specific features for the deaf including open floor plans to facilitate visual communication and signing as well as lots of natural lighting.

The plans also include video entrance systems for the points of entry to “buzz people in” and the fire alarm system will feature powerful strobe lights. Interestingly the building was designed to rent out to individuals and families who meet affordable housing requirements, and so will be available to anyone, however, the developers will be heavily marketing to those who will benefit most from the very specifically designed spaces.

[Rendering: Grimm + Parker Architects]

Over the last few years, the District has been on a major streak of designing a string of amazing and innovative new Libraries all across town, and the latest brick box library from the 60s to get the redesign treatment is in Woodridge along Rhodes Island Ave. The first preliminary designs have been released by the architects Bing Thom and Wienceck + Associates and they feature a lot of feedback from the community including massive open spaces,natural light, as well as the potential for a cafe and business center.

The most prominent feature is a roof deck terrace with a glowing roof that will hover over the large multistory atrium. We were struck by how open and iconic the library design is, it almost looks like something that would be a major civic buildings or a performance space rather than a library.

We’re interested to see what materials and finishes will be included in the next iteration of the design process, which might give us a little better idea of how this thing is going to end up looking in the end.

More renderings after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »