Higher education: The rebirth of a Washington, D.C., high school
By Robert Cassidy, Executive Editor
Built in 1932, the Collegiate Georgia–style Roosevelt High School campus in Washington’s Petworth neighborhood suffered from numerous shortsighted “improvements” made in 1977.
The project team, led by architect Perkins Eastman, restored the original cupola, reopened the school’s historic front door (closed for 30 years), and infilled one of the three original courtyards. The team enclosed the courtyard with a 10,000-sf electrochromic glass skylight, which cut the project’s total heat load.
Painted-over WPA frescoes from 1934 were restored and relocated as part of the formal entry sequence. Stormwater improvements were turned into a “WaterWorks” learning environment.
Project Summary
Bronze Award Winner
Building Team: Perkins Eastman (submitting firm, architect) District of Columbia Department of General Services (owner) ReStl Designers (SE) Global Engineering Solutions (MEP) Smoot/Gilbane, A Joint Venture (GC).
Details: 327,870 sf. Cost: $128 million. Construction time: January 2014 to October 2015 (two phases).