Reunion Square

Balancing preservation, contemporary design, and neighborhood identity, Reunion Square is a pioneer in the ongoing revitalization of a storied, community-driven corridor.

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Reunion Square is situated on nearly eight acres in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, DC. The masterplan for this community, when completed, will revitalize the neighborhood through the development of 1.5 million SF across eight new mixed-use buildings, three of which will be designed by Hickok Cole. Not only will this improve the streetscape, but it will also improve the circulation framework for automobiles and pedestrians, transforming the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and W Street into an epicenter of urban vitality in Anacostia.

The first of the three buildings to be designed by Hickok Cole is a 300,000 SF office building, now home to the District’s Department of Health. Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, this building comprises two main volumes, each with five and seven stories. The program includes 7,000 SF of ground-level, community-based retail and a three-level, below-grade parking garage. Both volumes are defined by high-end finishes of brick, metal panels, and glass facades, respecting the avenue’s well-established massing, materiality, and geometries. The two volumes create an “L” shape with its main elevations adjacent to Railroad Avenue, W Street, and Shannon Place. The building has been situated on the site so that it creates a lush, landscaped courtyard incorporating the bioretention system.

Designed by our Creative team, a monument sign is located within the courtyard as an arrival marker for employees and visitors. With bold font, back- and front-lit lettering, and strategic contrasting materiality and accent colors, this monument sign also introduces the character and identity of the rest of the building.

The main feature of the lobby is an expansive glass wall, consisting of bright colors of red, orange, green and yellow, accent colors that are then used throughout the building as a means for wayfinding. Amenity spaces such as conference rooms, office spaces, and multipurpose areas also continue this color palette and materiality, creating a cohesive identity on the interiors and exteriors of this building.

The varying heights of both volumes allowed for two different roof terraces to complement the amenity spaces within the building. While the rooftop terrace on the 7th floor allows for unique views of the river and of the city skyline, the rooftop terrace on the 5th floor is enhanced by the presence of an intensive green garden, introducing a strong natural presence visible also from the adjacent areas of the neighborhood.

The facade along Railroad Avenue is mainly characterized by an articulated window wall system, which maximizes the views across the river. The gently angled glass elements interact with the sun to create an iconic sequence of light reflections, inspired by the dynamic flow of the vehicles on the freeway and of the water at the river’s edge. In addition to the office building, Hickok Cole is designing a hotel and an affordable mixed-use residential apartment building for seniors to be built in the coming years.