PROJECT Anacostia High School
LOCATION Washington, District of Columbia, US
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE 8/1/2011
ARCHITECT DLR Group | Sorg
ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT N/A
OWNER/CLIENT District of Columbia Department of General Services/District of Columbia Public Schools
CONTRACTOR / CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Forrester Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER Anice Hoachlander
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Suman Sorg, FAIA, Robert Widger, RA
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
Originally constructed in 1937 with subsequent additions in the 1950s and 1970s, Anacostia High School was in a state of severe disrepair, with broken down building systems and classrooms burned out or flooded. The facility was the focus of the community’s wrath and, at one point, seemed destined to be torn down. However, the architect envisioned a preservation approach to save this significant symbolic structure. After establishing that the period of significance would include both the original building and the 1950s addition, spaces were slated for restoration, renovation, or rebuilding, with the poorly configured 1970s addition razed to right-size the school for its smaller student population. The architecture would support the academic mission, as well as efforts to curb truancy, a lack of discipline, and student pregnancy by giving the students a place to thrive. The 200,000 SF modernization of this 1,200-student facility includes new classrooms, laboratories, cafeteria space, a gymnasium, auditorium, a media center, as well as new building systems. The architect’s approach encompassed highlighting the historic 1930s structure in architectural expression, while also reintroducing clarity to the building’s floor plan. Characteristics of this structure include fine architectural detail work, high ceilings, large windows, as well as terrazzo and wood flooring—all of which had been covered over or severely damaged. Interior restoration efforts focused on significant historic spaces, such as the auditorium and gymnasium. The architect’s plan to reestablish each façade of the building entailed fully restoring the original structure and eliminating the exterior of visual impediments, which included years of patchwork and exposed utility work. Redesign of exterior entry points provided better security for the school and to control circulation to the project’s many shared facilities. In addition, this significant effort brought the facility up to current building code and accessibility standards. Intertwined from the outset in the concept design process, innovative green building strategies for existing and historic structures resulted in a LEED Gold certified Anacostia High School.
MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF
IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS
IMAGE 1 Anacostia High School_high res ext, Exterior, Anice Hoachlander
IMAGE 2 Anacostia High School_high res int, Cafeteria, Anice Hoachlander
IMAGE 3 Anacostia High School_1, Exterior, Anice Hoachlander
IMAGE 4 Anacostia High School_2, Corridor, Anice Hoachlander
IMAGE 5 Anacostia High School_3, Cafeteria, Anice Hoachlander
IMAGE 6 Anacostia High School_4, Media Center, Anice Hoachlander
IMAGE 7
IMAGE 8
Anacostia High School
Category
State > AIA Maryland > Institutional Architecture (AIA Maryland)
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