For the design of a Washington, D.C.-based commercial real estate firm, modern elegance was the order of the day. The project was the company’s opportunity to infuse new life into its headquarters and create a more contemporary environment for both clients and employees. The ninth-floor layout highlights the building’s spectacular views—the Connecticut Avenue corridor at the intersection of M and 18th Streets—and reimagines the interiors as a light-filled workplace.
 
To meet the client’s desire for a high-end look, but stay within the prescribed budget, the architects were strategic in their selection and placement of materials and finishes. The entry reception area features an accent wall of walnut wood-veneer wall covering that wraps both ends of the lobby and becomes the ceiling plane above. This solution achieved the look of custom millwork without the price tag. For the flooring, grey marble and white tile zones are bisected with graphic lines of contrasting stone—a nod to the building’s geometry and the diagonal layout of Washington’s avenues.
 
Another key element of the office’s transformation—from dark and closed off spaces into a welcoming, professional environment—were the corridors. Glass sliding-door storefronts replace drywall partitions to allow natural light deep into the interiors. The carpet’s stripe pattern and the white ceiling planks with intermittent LED lighting strips above, articulate the length and width of the corridor while delineating a clear circulation path. Refreshed with a new design, the firm is poised to take its business into the next decade and beyond.