Location
1701 Rhode Island NW
Washington, DC
Emerging from the site of a 40-year old former YMCA, 1701 Rhode Island is a seven-story, 104,000-SF office building transformed to elevate its presence within the Dupont Circle community, while blending in with the charm and historic character of the neighborhood.
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A striking addition to the Central Business District, the LEED Platinum office building pays homage to nearby St. Matthew’s Cathedral with a unique facade constructed of pre-aged copper shingles, individually hand treated by an artisan in Italy.
Visitors are guided alongside lush landscaping on one of several pathways leading towards the building’s centrally located main entrance. Benches are found throughout the exterior property, including in the adjacent community pocket park, to further activate the surrounding area and enhance the building’s presence.
2021
North American Copper in Architecture Awards
2019
retrofit magazine Metamorphosis Awards
2019
Glass Magazine Awards
2019
AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards
2019
NAIOP DC|MD Awards of Excellence
A double-height lobby welcomes visitors with a sculptural cube feature, inspired by Washington, DC’s native cherry blossom trees. Constructed of backlit burnished aluminum panels, the color-changing feature is visible from the exterior and glows from within at night, bringing the lobby to life as a vibrant part of the pedestrian experience.
Trophy class amenities are designed to meet the needs of the modern worker, including a large penthouse with city views, a series of outdoor terraces, and a naturally-lit fitness facility featuring maple wood walls reclaimed from the original YMCA’s gymnasium floor.
Citing the building’s efficient, light-filled floor plates, memorable design, and prominent location, 1701 Rhode Island delivered fully leased to WeWork in February 2019 – making it the co-working giant’s first flagship location in Washington, DC. In July of that year, the property sold for a net recorded price of $105.7 million, or just over $1K per square foot. The sale represents one of the top five prices per square foot of an office building ever achieved in the city.
“The sale of this building is a testament to its striking design and the successful execution of the redevelopment. We were able to work together to transform an old YMCA gymnasium into a fully leased, trophy quality office building with an outstanding and contemporary design.”
Sold for a record-selling price
Amount sold per SF
Highest priced office buildings sold in DC
1701 Rhode Island NW
Washington, DC
Akridge
General Contractor: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
MEP Engineer: GHT Limited
Structural Engineer: SK&A
Copper Manufacturer/Supplier: KME Italy
Copper Installer: The James Myers Company
Landscape Architect: Parker Rodriguez, Inc.
Photographer: Alan Schindler
104,000-SF
Adaptive Reuse, Amenities, Coworking, LEED, Repositioning, Sustainable Design
