DC Metrocentric

As of today, ground is officially broken in Silver Spring on the huge new Lukmire Partnership designed library. The interesting massive glass design is intended to in the words of the architect “glow like a lantern” and preserves a light rail station passing “under” the building.

In addition to multiple floors of library space there will also be meeting rooms and a community arts center. We have repeatedly been reassured that the orange creamsicle color scheme in all the renderings we have seen so far will not remain, but now that ground has broken, we’re not so sure we believe them anymore!

[Rendering: Lukmire Partnership]

The FTC is out looking for more space again (half a million sq-ft to be exact) as its workforce is expected to grow beyond its current space by 2014.  The Pennsylvania Ave HQ built back in 1938 by architect Edward H. Bennett has been the FTCs home for over 70 years, but as the agencies mission and role have changed, so have its space needs.

Historically agencies haven’t been forced out of locations, but given the FTC buildings proximity to the National Mall, the gallery of Art has had its eye on the building for years, with several unsuccessful attempts over the years to take over the building. This may be the reason the benefactors of the Gallery of Art has been looking for.

At the end of the day, it’s ultimately up to Congress so we will see what happens.

[Photo: MV Jantzen]

For the past few months we have been noticing the construction underway along 10th Street NW in the Penn Quarter and from the looks of it, the thin little ten story building is now getting completely gutted. The building looks old, and tearing down and rebuilding such a narrow and tall building probably didn’t make economic sense.

The work is being done by Davis Construction and given that the rest of the block is mostly three story buildings, the views must be great from all sides. Actually we wouldn’t mind moving in once work is complete!

More photos after the jump…

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When touting the merits of new construction office buildings we have heard a lot of things, but we don’t recall ever hearing anything about how great the color of the building was. Well times have changed because back when office construction was just getting started in Dupont Circle, this vintage post card for a new building was really playing up its blueness.

The caption reads “The Capital’s newest, largest, and finest BLUE building”. We can’t imagine there were that many other blue buildings to begin with so we guess that narrow of a field makes it fairly easy to be the biggest and best.

[Credit: Dan_DC]

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Now that the new owners of the project at 10th and G street NW are back to work, we’ve seen a lot of progress lately including the installation of the main site crane and now the concrete is officially flowing as they work on the foundation. What we are really interested to see though, is once the construction starts going vertical so we can judge how this monstrosity is going to actually look compared to the renderings!

[Photo: DCMetrocentric]

Remember the Park Morton project along Georgia Ave that is one of  the corner stones of the Districts long term affordable housing initiative? Well the first phase of the project has been approved and the DC council is putting their money where their mouth is by throwing in a nice $16 million loan to jump start construction.

The overall plan includes the replacement of Park Morton’s eight, three-story buildings to eventually build at least 500 units of mixed-use housing surrounded by a public park. Great step in the right direction, and the design isn’t that bad either. They will break ground at the begining of next year. [Rendering: Wiencek & Associates]

After over a year of construction, the beautiful new home of the Arena Stage in Southwest is ready to open this October! We have been fans of the the Bing Thom designed structure ever since we saw the first rendering, and we think the reality truly lives up to the design. What do you think of the structure and form now that it’s complete?

We just love the innovative way the new flowing structure surrounds the original old concrete brutalist style structure.

[Photos: DCMetrocentric]

With all the prep work done back in June, the Hay-Adams hotel is now officially shut down and under the first full fledged renovation in 60 years. As you can see a crane has been assembled on the site, which will help with the addition of a new top floor (which you can just make out in the photo) as well as new direct access high speed elevators.

The plan is to be finished up this fall, with a grand reopening party on the new roof in October. [Photo: DCMetrocentric]

We got our hands on these fresh new renderings of the Asher project in Alexandria by the Braddock Rd Metro station and it looks like the development, which is going to be a combination of refurbished old buildings and new construction, will fit right into the neighborhood.

We always wondered how the area around a metro stop so close to downtown could be so under developed, but with the addition of this project and the very stylish Braddock Gateway development around the corner, all that is about to change.

[Renderings: Lessard Architects via ArchiBIM]

The new building going up in Ballston next to the iconic Peck site is finally getting the Cooper Carey designed curved glass facade we have heard so much about. Since this is the first (and less impressive) of the two buildings going up on the site, we’re interested to hear how you think it stacks up to the design?

As we mentioned way back in 2008, the first building at 900 N Gleb will be used by the Virginia Teach foundation for offices and a research center.

Though we’re more excited to see how the amazing second building ends up looking!

Ever looked enviously at the beautiful Victorian Heurich House in Dupont Circle (pictured below) and pictured yourself attending a lavish soiree, sipping on cocktails? Well now is your chance as the the DC Preservation League is hosting a “historic hot spot” happy hour in the 1894 home.

The Heurich House (also known as the Brewmaster’s Castle) is a beautifully intact Victorian-age mansion in Dupont Circle that was built by brewer and real estate magnate Christian Heurich in 1894. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the house is completely fireproof and boasts numerous technological innovations, making it the “smart house” of its time. Preserved features include 15 fireplaces with individually carved mantles and elaborate firebacks, hand-painted ceiling canvasses, and original turn-of-the-century domestic collections. Expect like minded architecture buffs as well as libations and light Hors d’Oeurves!

Date: Thursday, August 12

Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm

Place: 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, NW

Metro Station: Dupont Circle

Suggested donation of $10 [For More Info Click Here]

We have been interested to see what the future holds for the old Washington Star Building down by Nationals Park, so we were excited to find this nice shiny rendering in our inbox of how the project is going to eventually look, and we must say that the design has come a long way from the windowless warehouse structure on the site today.

You may remember the history of the site, which the District leased for years and then outright bought to use as office space, but the old printing plant has sat empty for all those years. The new plans call for a complete redesign and addition to the five story building, as well as a renovation of the interiors. The project is aiming for a LEED Silver certification and will include what is being billed as the largest largest green roof in the District. [Rendering: Stonebridge Carras ]

The beautiful abandoned nuevo-Spanish style building at 1626 North Capitol St NW was once the DC Engine Company #12 Firehouse but has unfortunately been empty and boarded up since the 1980s. The building has had its fair share of failed plans over the years and so with that in mind we were excited to hear that the project was back before the ANC board this week.

The plan is for a three level restaurant with late night dinning. Now the idea should sound like a familiar one, since this was the exact same plan back in 2007 before the financing fell through and the building was put back on the market. Hopefully with the right community support and solid financing the amazing building will get the love and attention it so rightly deserves!

[Photo: Parkview DC]

The set backs for the development of the Old JC Penney building in Silver Spring has been well documented on this site, but it appears the clouds may be ready to part. After the Montgomery County Planning Board approved the preliminary plans for the music venue earlier this month, just this week they also finalized the approved master site plan.

Regardless of how people feel about the fairness of the deal (with Live Nation getting subsidies and a nice lease back of the venue) it’s nice to finally see the project have a path to move forward which will provide another place to enjoy live music in the area! Not to mention the building is also pretty damn cool looking! [Rendering: Hickok Cole]