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300 New Jersey Avenue

300 New Jersey Avenue - Design

The design approach to the new ‘north’ building is for it to be an efficient office building with a standard internal circulation core. It is based around a structural grid which will be efficient enough to allow many office layouts, thereby making the building highly flexible.

The atrium volume is used as a thermal buffer to the new building’s south façade.RRP’s desire to maximise daylight in the office spaces meant that the cladding system was designed to allow full-height glazing. The effects of solar gain to the south façade are cushioned by the partially-ventilated atrium.

As part of the design stage work for the 12,000 sq ft atrium’s glass roof, and integral to RRP's design process, the client agreed to engage a specialist engineer/fabricator of bespoke glazing systems. Advanced Structures Inc (ASI) was brought on board to work directly with RRP and the engineer of record in designing the atrium’s glass roof and walls. The process allowed for an easy transition of early structural and glazing concepts from RRP and Expedition Engineering to the project's Washington-based team. Early exchanges between RRP and ASI typified the working collaboration between architect and engineer/fabricator that is habitual in RRP's work.

The benefits to the project were manifold, including optimised off-site assembly via a glass roof system; ease of on-site erection via direct steel supplier input; visual clarity via custom extrusions studies; cost assurance; and – above all – client confidence in the process.

The design for the public plaza is to create a semi-divided space, with areas defined by landscape features. These elements combine to create a series of public spaces, including an outdoor terrace café and open bench seating.

    Flexibility

Due to the strict height limits inherent in Washington’s building regulations, a concrete structure is used. The structural grid is maximised to limit the number of columns, thereby allowing for a multitude of office layouts, and providing flexibility in the use of cellular and/or open-plan offices. 

    Energy

Early studies of alternative service strategies were carried out, resulting in the employment of several simple gestures towards a more sustainable development. These are: using the atrium space as a thermal and solar glare buffer to the new building’s south façade, and utilising a displacement air system at the ground level of the atrium. The atrium’s glass roof has a ceramic frit pattern which allows light to enter but aids in preventing direct solar gain due to the building's orientation. The relationship of the south façade to the atrium means that glass roof acts as a solar shade to the south façade. The benefit of this is reduced energy consumption.

    Public Realm

The client embraced the opportunity to improve and add to the provision of public space. This is achieved by the building’s public plaza, which is open to all. In urban design terms, this is carried out by breaking the ‘street wall’, thereby softening the overall perspective of New Jersey Avenue towards the Capitol.