Balsa

This conversion project brings a fresh perspective to urban living by taking a dated, underperforming office building and breathing life back into its bones. With bold textures and natural color palettes, Balsa offers an elevated living experience in the heart of DC.

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Our design focuses on rethinking rather than erasing, preserving the structural foundations of the original office building while introducing modern flares. At the street level, a revitalized lobby welcomes guests with a rich palette of materials including warm wood, textured stone, and elegant bronze and glass.

This office-to-residential conversion transformed an underperforming office building into a 222-unit urban apartment community, adding much-needed housing to DC’s central business district. The project creatively repurposed the existing garage structure and first two floors as a podium for the nine new levels of metal stud-bearing wall construction above.

Located in a predominately office-centric area, we wanted Balsa to both harmonize with its surroundings and distinguish itself as a residential haven. A refined sense of home is created by contrasting boldly textured furnishings with soft and inviting materials.

The addition of a courtyard brings breath and light into the building’s mid-block site. This new feature is the center mark for sophistication with its darker color palette, wood accents, and modern lighting. It balances out the warmer textures seen throughout the rest of the building and offers a place where residents can socialize, relax, and recharge.

Coworking spaces and lounges are found throughout the building, fostering connection, collaboration, and personal focus. Warm terracotta, muted coral, and soft beige add a refreshing sense of discovery and wonder, while images of canaries encourage movement and free thinking. Natural green accents add a biophilic touch, enriching the experience of urban living.