CLIENTDC Department of General Services, District of Columbia Public Schools
SERVICESArchitecture, Interiors
LOCATIONWashington, DC
SIZE76,000 sq ft
STATUSCompleted 2024
CERTIFICATIONLEED Gold, Net Zero Energy ready
The modernization of Garfield Elementary School demonstrates that thoughtful design can blend history, sustainability, and modern educational needs into a cohesive and inspiring campus.
A key feature of the design is the “Discovery Hub,” a central social space that connects the historic building, the 1950s structure, and the new addition. This hub navigates the level changes between the buildings, creating an accessible and welcoming gathering space that opens directly to a protected outdoor classroom.
The design is Net Zero-ready, ensuring both environmental responsibility and long-term efficiency.
Design for Safety
Located on Alabama Avenue, the existing conditions posed significant safety concerns, with play spaces too close to the busy street and an unsafe student drop-off area that had resulted in pedestrian accidents.
The design solution addressed these issues by creating a protective buffer for the play spaces and moving the primary student drop off and entrance to a calmer side street, enhancing accessibility and safety.
The modernization of Garfield Elementary School addressed safety, accessibility, and functionality challenges. The design, developed in collaboration with the Historic Preservation Office and the US Commission of Fine Arts, integrates modern, functional, and equitable learning spaces while celebrating the historic building and its prominent architect, William Sydney Pittman. The new addition was carefully designed to complement the existing building without overwhelming the historic character of the campus.
Balancing modernization & history
PHOTOGRAPHYGarrett Rowland
Awards and Press
- ABC of Metro Washington Excellence in Construction Awards — 2025
Awards
- City of Palo Alto, Architectural Review Board (ARB) Design Award | The Hub at Stanford Research Park
- ULI Washington Awards for Excellence, Finalist | MLK Gateway II
- Future of Work Awards, Jury’s Special Prize | Ledger HQ
- BIM d’Or, Tech Show Awards | Google AI Hub
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Office Renovation, Winner | Meta EMEA Headquarters
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Medium Tech Office: Finalists | WHOOP Headquarters
- ULI Europe Awards for Excellence : Winner | L’Atelier Covivio
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Finalist: Large Early Education | Raymond Elementary School
- AIA DC, Awards of Excellence in Architecture, Chapter Design Award: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- ULI Washington Awards of Excellence, Excellence in Institutional Development: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- ULI Washington Awards of Excellence: Finalists | Raymond Elementary School
- USGBC, US Local Market Leadership Swards DC, MD, VA, Decarbonization Award: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- Fast Company, Innovation by Design Awards, Best Workplace Design: Honorable Mention | WHOOP Headquarters
- Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, Display Installations: Winner | Welcome Galleries at the National Building Museum
- Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, Best in office Buildings: Winner | Meta EMEA Headquarters
- Interior Design Magazine, NYCxDesign Awards: Finalist | 825 Third Avenue
- CoreNet NYC Design Excellence Awards, Project of the Year Under 25K sq ft: Winner | 825 Third Avenue
- USGBC, US Local Market Leadership Awards DC, MD, VA, Judge’s Choice Award: Winner | MLK Gateway II
- NAIOP DC MD Awards of Excellence, Best Washington DC Urban Office: Winner | MLK Gateway II
- CoreNet New England Awards of Excellence, Large Workplace: Winner | WHOOP Headquarters