A modern government workplace
The Department of Transportation headquarters, the first new executive cabinet-level office building in a quarter century, consolidated 5,500 employees in one location. Workplace quality and flexibility became guiding principles for employee wellness and satisfaction as well as operational efficiency. The U-shaped layout wraps a sky-lighted atrium that links the two buildings and maximizes daylight to office floors. By placing conference rooms and other shared functions adjacent to connecting stairs between floors, we encouraged employee interaction and flexibility for departments to grow or shrink over time.
“A landmark building and a model workplace for the federal government in our nation’s capital”
– Arnold Hill, GSA Project Manager
Reconciling neo-classical tradition with an industrial site
The result of a public-private partnership, the project catalyzed redevelopment of the former Navy Yard into a burgeoning business district. The main entrance on New Jersey Avenue within view of the Capitol is clad in marble whereas the brick facades of the rest of the building respond to commercial buildings on M Street and the industrial remains of the Navy Yard. Tree-lined pedestrian boulevards and an art program humanize the mandated security setbacks so that they blend in with the rest of the city.
A GSA design excellence project, the DOT HQ was delivered through a design-build-leaseback arrangement
The largest LEED Gold EB O&M building in the National Capital Region
Matt Ligas, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP
Principal
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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.
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