The AAMC Headquarters Building features an 11-story main office tower and four historic buildings that are incorporated into the main concrete structure. The exterior features multiple facades, including curtain wall, ribbon and punched windows, and metal and terra-cotta panels.
To preserve the masonry construction of the early 1900s, the exterior along the southeast side of the headquarters incorporates four historic buildings. The preservation effort did not simply include the building facades but also most of the depth of the buildings. Each of the four required structural modifications and restoration work to tie into the new structure.
During new construction, the historic buildings were relocated to an off-site storage lot. The four structures were jacked up one by one and rolled out of the way. Using hydraulic dollies, crews conducted the delicate process of returning the structures to the construction site. Each building was carefully maneuvered through downtown streets, while the dollies were adjusted to keep the structures level.
The survey team monitored the buildings for settlement or structural disturbances. Bricks damaged during the relocation had to be replaced. Each unique structure required brick replacements of varying colors, textures and sizes. Some brick replacements also required custom-fabricated shapes.
Interiors include a three-story atrium, two fountains and five ornamental stairways. A vertical water feature at the western end of the lobby—visible from Mount Vernon Square—visually connects to an exterior pool with stone seating walls.
The space includes 13,750 sq ft of retail space on the ground level and three below-grade parking levels.
Office/Retail/Mixed-Use Developments: Award of Merit - AAMC Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Key Players
Owner Association of American Medical Colleges
Development Manager JM Zell Partners
Construction Manager Hines
Lead Design Firm Shalom Baranes Associates
Interior Architect STUDIOS Architecture
MEP Engineer WSP Group
Civil Engineer A. Morton Thomas & Associates
Structural Engineer Tadjer Cohen Edelson Associates
Landscape Architect AECOM
Mechanical/Plumbing Contractor JCM Associates
Electrical Contractor T.A. Beach
Concrete Contractor Clark Concrete Contractors
Precast Contractor Modern Mosaic
