Randall School Redevelopment Gets Thumbs Up From HPRB

• June 28th 2013

by Shilpi Paul

On Thursday, the response from the Historic Preservation Review Board when it came to the design for the massive Randall School redevelopment in Southwest was generally positive.

The plans, by Bing Thom Architects, encompass the vacant Randall School building and the surrounding space on a large lot at Half Street and I Street SW (map). As planned, a contemporary museum would go into the historic school building, and will also extend into an addition behind the existing building. To each side will be a restaurant and culinary education facility. A massive apartment complex with 550 units will go up on the northern portion of the site. The apartments will spread over several 12-story buildings. Underground parking completes the plan.

The apartment buildings are made of metal and glass, and are intended to recede behind the more dramatic school building. Some portions of the buildings are cantilevered, so people can walk underneath.

In addition to a portion of the museum that will be open to the community, a courtyard is planned in between the buildings. The designers are hoping that it will feel inviting and will be utilized by the public; one idea put forth to make that happen includes projecting movies and other visual art onto the exterior walls of the museum extension.

Some members of the Board felt that the ramps planned for the facade of the museum ruined the design, and that the cantilevering was “aggressive.” Others, however, were very excited about the design and the Board voted to adopt the staff report for the project, which can be found here.

The plans have been sent on to the Mayor’s Agent for approval, and the developers now need to go before the Zoning Commission.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/more_details_on_the_500000-square-foot_randall_school_redevelopment/7259.