The Shaw

This project is an example of ingenuity in using the history of the neighborhood to create an extraordinary sense of place and inserting ground floor retail to enliven the street. In collaboration with Le Droit Park and the Shaw community, the design juxtaposed old and new, carefully weaving new construction around two existing facades. In return, the project was able to take advantage of the full floor area ratio (FAR) on the site. Since the building is adjacent to the legendary Howard Theater and Ellington Plaza, we wanted to continue to pay homage to Duke Ellington, famed jazz legend, DC native, and the subject of a 20-foot statue in the plaza. Musical references inspired the design. As the statue’s piano keys display a sense of movement, so does the design of the building. Patterns are arranged rhythmically on each floor and create a dynamic facade. The building contains 75 units and over 7,000 SF of ground floor retail. The project received Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) approvals.