Waterfront Station

Leased to the Washington, D.C. Government, Waterfront Station included the construction two, eight-story office buildings, two levels of below-grade parking, and the reconstruction of 4th Street, SW, which bisects the project site. The exterior of the two buildings features multiple skin types that help break up the large façade. Exposed concrete, stone, embedded light boxes, three types of metal panels, and more than a dozen colors of terracotta create a neighborhood feel on the street level. A glass curtain wall system with specialty glazing and sunscreens on both buildings’ upper levels allows natural light to spread throughout interior areas. 

The structure’s lobbies include two-story ornamental stairways, terrazzo flooring, stainless steel vestibules, and specialty stone and glass wall panels. A CVS drug store and Safeway grocery store occupy a portion of the project’s retail component near the Waterfront-SEU Metro entrance at M and 4th Streets SW.

Because of the project’s size and proximity to basic services, Clark carefully phased the schedule to minimize disturbances. During the demolition, which included two city blocks, Clark maintained access to the nearby Waterfront-SEU Metro station by rerouting pedestrian traffic flow and scheduling major work at night, when necessary. Several retail tenants of the Waterfront Mall remained open during the Phase I demolition and Phase II construction.

Waterfront Station is a key element in fulfilling Washington, D.C.’s vision for a revitalized southwest neighborhood. Not only does the project bring a new vibrancy to the community, including 1,600 workers and several new retail stores, but it opens up the neighborhood and connects it to a major artery, M Street SW. At the project’s grand opening event in June 2010, then Mayor Adrian Fenty said that Waterfront Station is “a new hub of activity, transportation, shopping, and employment. The city was so committed to this neighborhood and this project, that we made it our home.”

Sustainability

A LEED Gold project, Waterfront Station features multiple green roofs and building materials that are regional, recycled, and low-emitting. The site’s irrigation system relies on collected rainwater and condensation. The buildings’ energy system performs 17.5 percent more efficiently than baseline projections. Additionally, low-flow fixtures and a focus on conservation have resulted in a 40 percent reduction in water use.