PROJECT National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)

ARCHITECT Winstanley Architects & Planners

LOCATION  Alexandria, Virginia US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  9/1/2019

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Yves Springuel, AIA; Leejung Hong, LEED AP; Kevin Fuller, Andi Dong
OWNER/CLIENT National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  McCloud Builders
PHOTOGRAPHER  Jessica Marcotte

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CIVIL ENGINEER
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
MECHANICAL ENGINEER Vanderweil
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Vanderweil
CONSULTANT Broker: Axis Realty Advisors, LLC
CONSULTANT Furniture Consultant: B-More Consulting LLC
CONSULTANT A/V / IT Consultant: RJC Designs Inc
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

Relocating to Old Town Alexandria, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) commissioned Winstanley Architects & Planners to design their new offices. The design was challenging not only in regard to budget, but also with respect to program—all private offices in today’s workspace culture of open space benching. Our approach was to embrace this program and to plan the space like a town with narrow streets, piazzas & courtyards at public spaces. Occupying the 2nd floor in a concrete building located at the waterfront, the space had regular round concrete columns set in a 20’ grid with views of the Potomac River. While locating private offices along the perimeter of the building, two areas were left for the Main Conference Room & Café. The Main Conference room is located directly off the Lobby rendering visible the Potomac River as you walk into NRMCA. The Café is located at the far corner of the space, after walking through the winding office corridor, where it has direct access to the sidewalk. The interior finishes area based on expressing concrete and detailed to showcasing concrete inspired elements such as rebar. The project’s two objectives were to provide a design that represents a concrete association, and to address wellness in the private offices for the occupants, in particular to the lighting & furniture.

In approaching it with a less is more attitude and making all design choices based on the question ‘is that concrete’, the overall space was able to represent a concrete interior that the occupants immediately identify their association with.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

[KY=Kim Yao (Chair)  KD=Kimberly Dowdell  TY=Takashi Yanai]

KY: I love the rebar ceiling! It demonstrates an effective and innovative use of the material to create the ceiling plane. In general, it’s great to see concrete being utilized in diverse ways.

KD: The architect uses concrete in successful and innovative ways—they are "all in" on this material! The narrative of this project is well integrated and helps to distinguish the design.

TY: The rebar ceiling is very successful. The architect has taken the DNA of this association and imprinted it within the design.

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. NRMCA Lobby - Jessica Marcotte Photography
2. NRMCA Lobby - Jessica Marcotte Photography
3. NRMCA Hallway - Jessica Marcotte Photography

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