Focused on African-American arts, culture, and business
The location for the new Reeves Center at the intersection of 14th and U Streets, NW is a historic crossroads directly linked to Black history and culture, the DC Home Rule movement, and civil rights activism. The project includes a plaza and amphitheater named for significant Black leaders, an Alvin Ailey American Dance School, a Viva school of dance, Washington Jazz Arts Institute, and a Dave Chappelle Comedy Club. It also includes municipal offices, the headquarters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a 116-room hotel, 22,500 SF of local-business retail, a child development center, and 322 units of affordable and market-rate housing.
The Center’s name is a tribute to Franklin D. Reeves, lawyer and civil rights activist who was part of the team that shaped the landmark desegregation case Brown V. Board of Education.
Engaging the urban realm for residents and visitors
The building is organized to engage the public realm by reinforcing the street edge as an important urban form and allowing the corner to open into a large public plaza in the center of the plan. All of the edges along the street are enlivened with activities and offer transparent views to activities inside. In the courtyard plaza, there is a large amphitheater for public performances and various pedestrian-scaled features that allow it to feel welcoming when events are not taking place.
Sean Pichon, AIA
Principal
Send a Message
Jeff Goins, AIA
Principal
Send a Message
Sector Contact
Get in contact with us for your next residential project.
Featured Projects
At Michael Graves, we create designs that clients dream of. We care not only about what we create; we care whom we create it for.
Loèche-les-Bains (Leukerbad), Switzerland
Washington, DC
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
