Constructed in 1964 by the C & P Telephone Co. this 7 story building was originally designed as a mixed use building to house telephone switchgear, cables, and equipment on the lower floors and offices above for a total 230,500 SF above grade.  Two levels of below grade parking and cable rooms completed the building.  Monument Realty, the developer for the project, commissioned Nelson Architects to redesign the outdated common areas and lobby, update the façade to include an inviting retail level and to design a tenant specific 30,000 SF, 8th floor addition.

The site, which sits in the New Downtown Receiving Zone, was eligible for expansion as part of the District’s Future Land Use map of the Comprehensive Plan.  In particular, the neighborhood was designated as High Density Commercial that could achieve a maximum allowed height of 110’-0” through the use of Transferrable Development Rights (TDR’s).  The plan permitted the developer to add another floor to the existing building.  The new addition put the main roof of 2055 L Street roughly in line with the height of the adjacent buildings and dramatically improves the look of the building.

The restoration to L Street and 21th Street facades included removing the existing window security screens, cleaning the white marble veneer and greenstone spandrel panels as well as livening up the previously windowless ground floor with a glass and aluminum retail storefront.  The canopy at the L Street façade was refurbished and a new inviting canopy was designed for the new entrance at the corner of 21st and L Streets.  Renovation of the office floors included new restrooms and all new mechanical, electrical and plumbing.

The major design challenge for the 8th floor addition was the integration of the new interior program with the existing structure and the exterior rhythm of the building.  Light-weight glass and metal curtain wall technology helped to address the issue of the weight on the existing structure.  In addition, the change of material differentiated the existing from the new.   The use of glass and metal also broke up the weighty mass of the building and lent visual interest to the building.  A terrace was carved out of the addition at the south façade and a metal trellis, designed with supports that extend partway down the existing façade, was employed as a way to lead one’s eye up to the light and elegant addition. 

The renovation of the existing building was Phase I.  Phase II is constructing the addition of the 8th floor while the 7th floor is fully occupied and the telecommunication equipment remain active.