Award Winning LEED Certified Adaptive Reuse

A vacant late 19th century shell is transformed into a LEED certified commercial office.  The project involved the adaptive reuse of the row house, a contributing structure in the Shaw Historic District of Washington, DC.  The site is comprised of a two-story, 2,775 square foot, masonry and wood building with partial basement fronting 9th Street, NW and an existing garage structure and infill occupying the extent of the back lot to Blagdon Alley.

Vacant for years, with the exception of some homeless squatters, the building had fallen into extensive decay, so much so that nature began to reclaim the house and a tree was growing between the wythes of brick of an interior bearing wall.  The goal of the project was to take the abandoned shell and turn it into a functional and aesthetically pleasing rehabilitated space that exceeded Historic Preservation standards while also achieving LEED certification.

The completed design marries art and architecture by integrating craftsmanship and historic preservation with leadership in energy and environmental design.  The rehabilitation had to overcome the challenge of working on a tight budget in a confined time frame.  The rehabilitated building has become a benchmark for the newly revitalizing district, spurring many new businesses to relocate into the area.