2101 L Street, Northwest

Washington, DC

Program

370,000 SF, ten-story Class A office building repositioning with 25,794 SF ground floor retail and three levels of below-grade parking. Comprehensive renovation demolished to structure for total exterior and interior reconstruction while complying with existing PUD requirements.

Description

The renovation transformed the building through complete facade replacement and interior reconstruction while retaining the existing concrete structural frame. Working within exceptional constraints of only five inches between existing structural slabs and street front property lines, the design employs a sophisticated white metal unitized curtain wall system that establishes architectural hierarchy through refined layers of metal and glass.

The facade articulation creates distinct zones: a retail base with cantilevered glass signage band, a middle section with careful fenestration patterning, and a top floor featuring a deep metal-clad horizontal cornice that defines a rooftop amenity deck. The curtain wall system represents one of downtown Washington's early examples of contemporary glass-dominated facade systems in building renovation projects. The project required redesign of the outdated building core to accommodate upgraded egress stairs and mechanical systems. Interior common spaces utilize Carrara marble panels and stainless steel accents to create minimalist lobby environments. The building has attracted design-conscious tenants including Cassidy Turley Real Estate Services, RTKL Architects, and the US Green Building Council headquarters, which achieved LEED Platinum certification.

My Role

As Project Manager with WDG Architects, I orchestrated the comprehensive renovation, designing all floor plans and coordinating extensively with WDG's Design Architect, Interior Designer, and consulting engineers throughout the complete exterior and interior reconstruction process. Ensured density and height remained within original 1960s building approvals through extensive coordination with the design team and city officials, providing documentation to counter opposition from a neighboring condominium association led by, of all people, Ralph Nader. Managed technical complexities of working within existing structural constraints while implementing the curtain wall system and redesigning the building core for upgraded egress and mechanical systems.