| Size | Substantial Completion | Architect | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 155,000 SF | March 7, 2019 | Shalom Baranes | $95 Million |
Since moving into its headquarters building on Pennsylvania Avenue in northwest DC, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) had consistently grown and its occupancy within its existing building had more than doubled. Originally designed to house a workforce of 1,800, the IFC’s existing headquarters had become a cramped space with close to 2,800 employees. They needed additional, preferably adjacent, integrated space.
The Challenge
A single, separately owned parcel on the same block (2100 K Street) offered an opportunity for the efficient horizontal expansion of the Tenant’s existing offices. However, the parcel’s owners needed to build for present and future value. Addressing the IFC’s urgent space needs and the parcel owners’ desire for future flexibility, this project entailed the demolition of an existing structure and the construction of a major new office expansion adjacent to, but separate from, the existing building.
The Solution
The old 2100 K building was demolished, along with three below-grade levels of garage and partial removal of the adjacent 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue façade so that the two structures could connect. The IFC desired a façade design for the new structure that related to their existing headquarters building. Ownership demanded facades that were distinct from the rest of the block and met the standards of current trophy-class office building designs. Blake met everyone in the middle. The triangular geometries of the building’s roofline echo the diagonal of Pennsylvania Avenue and the configuration of the overall site. The new facades are derived from the proportional systems of the Tenant’s existing building, extend some important horizontal stringcourse and cornice lines, and borrow materials and material coloration from the existing building. Thus, 2100 K was designed to complement yet purposefully contrast with the existing headquarters.
Just as the exterior complements the Tenant’s existing building, eleven stories of the new 153,000-square-foot structure are aligned with the adjacent structure’s existing floors, providing for seamless horizontal integration. In addition, the project included reconfiguration/renovation of portions of the existing 2121 tenant space so that the two buildings could serve as one combined space, providing direct access between the two buildings. Similarly, a new street-level lobby also provides direct access for IFC departmental personnel.
However, 2100 K’s lobby, core, penthouse roof terrace, loading areas, four levels of parking, mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems are all completely separate from the Tenant’s adjacent structure, permitting the addition to function in the future as a stand-alone structure.
By balancing the tenant’s need for expansion space and the owner’s need for flexibility, Blake delivered both a functional and versatile LEED Platinum-certified trophy-class office building at 2100 K Street.