Terrell Place

Location: 
Washington, D.C.
Client: 
CarrAmerica
Size: 
624,000 Square Feet
Year Completed: 
2003

An iconic structure in Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown neighborhood,Terrell Place preserves the integrity of the neighborhood through its restoration of the existing, historic façade.

The 624,000 square-foot project consisted of three connecting components:

  • the historic former Hecht's building anchoring the Seventh and F streets corner, connected to the south along Seventh Street;
  • a new nine-story structure that incorporates four historic façades, and connecting to the east;
  • a new 11-story tower fronting F Street. An atrium topped off with an impressive skylight unites these elements.

The façade features precast, granite, brick, punch windows and curtain wall as well as existing historic façade of brick and terra cotta.

The refurbishment of the decorative terra cotta façade at Terrell Place was a lengthy and detailed process. The restoration company onsite worked closely with a California terra cotta fabricator, one of the only original terra cotta manufacturers left in the U.S. Damaged pieces were cast as molds and used to create replacements. Each replacement piece was a different dimension, which meant a new custom mold was created for each section of the building. Once fabricated, the company applied a clear glaze that matched that on the original structure and helped create a smooth, uniform look. The entire restoration process took nearly one and a half years to finish, and resulted in an exquisite new façade.

Awards: 
ABC Metro Washington Chapter - Award of Excellence, Commercial $40M+
Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation - Design Category
NAIOP Maryland/D.C. Chapter - Award of Excellence, Best Urban Office 150,000 Square Feet+
Washington Business Journal Best Real Estate Deals - Best Office Lease/Urban
WBC Craftsmanship Award - Historic Preservation