901 New York Avenue

Minimal yet bold changes can sometimes be the most powerful. This Class A downtown office building, just four blocks from the White House and adjacent to the quickly improving City Center district, had a dated, sterile and deeply recessed main entrance. Reconfiguring the physical layout of the entry wasn’t feasible. Instead, we devised a strategic approach that involved architectural improvements to finishes, lighting and the pavement, while enlivening the entry experience with a new signature sculpture. Referencing the city's famous cherry trees, the sculpture animates the entry space and creates a focal point that changes in opacity and texture. A reconfigured stairway and new paving stones alter the relationship of the entryway with the sidewalk, while strategic lighting improvements showcase the entry portico to its full advantage at night.