A New Gateway for DC’s National Geographic Headquarters

• July 3, 2019

by Nena Perry-Brown

Another headquarters building in DC is looking to "future proof".

National Geographic is seeking historic preservation approval for renovations which would make the 16th Street headquarters campus more cohesive and create a more welcoming streetscape in the 1600 block of M Street NW (map). Upon completion, the existing buildings will surround a new public plaza and a new central "pavilion" building which will provide a new entrance and event space.

As designed by Hickok Cole Architects, the project would create a level entry plane for the buildings and a pedestrian pathway along the perimeter of the campus and into the plaza. The ground floor of the existing buildings would also be activated where it faces the plaza and M Street. The overall effect is intended to create a gateway at M Street.

Some alterations would also be made to the plaza-facing façade of the historic 17th Street building, removing some glazing to install a door and creating a connection to the new pavilion, which will also have a rooftop terrace. Other portions of the façade, like the stairs and some of the architectural fins and windows in the shadow of the pavilion, will be removed and replaced. The renovations also propose to install an ADA-compliant lift on 16th Street. Additional renderings are below.

All renderings courtesy of Hickok Cole Architects.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a-new-gateway-for-national-geographic-headquarters/15621