flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

ODA completes West Half, its first D.C. project

Multifamily Housing

ODA completes West Half, its first D.C. project

The project is located in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard.


By David Malone, Managing Editor | August 27, 2021
West Half exterior

Photo: Scott Frances

ODA has completed a new multifamily structure in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard that comprises 465 apartments in a single square block. The project’s cascading facade creates a connection at the street level to provide the building with a transparent, approachable feel.

Dubbed West Half, the 10-story residential building includes unique apartment layouts that break the typical D.C. building mass into a more human scale that connects the indoors and outdoors and increases the amount of light and air. The floors are stacked on an inward trajectory that allows for ample outdoor terraces on the facade and an inner courtyard filled with cantilevered apartments.

 

West Half facadePhoto: Scott Frances.

 

A private rooftop lounge, designed by Venus Williams, provides views of Nationals Park. Terraces on the penthouse also provide direct sight lines to the ballpark. Because the project is highly visible from the stadium, the goal was to encourage richer, deeper, and more unified experiences for residents, tourists, and stadium-goers alike.

 

West Half bedroom from a terracePhoto: Scott Frances.

 

West Half’s interiors are defined by gently angled elements, minimalistic details, and a few tectonic finishes. The building’s indoor-outdoor connection is bolstered by interior elements such as the large indoor gym, which is exposed to the elements through an adjacent inner courtyard and the landscaped rooftop pool and resident lounge.

Sustainable strategies include cisterns that harvest water for the building’s irrigation and extensive green roofs that occupy 50% of the total roof area. The building has been LEED Gold certified. JBG Smith developed the project.

 

Nationals Park from West HalfPhoto: Pavel Bendov.

 

West Half pool deckPhoto: Scott Frances.

Related Stories

MFPRO+ New Projects | Jun 27, 2024

Chicago’s long-vacant Spire site will be home to a two-tower residential development

In downtown Chicago, the site of the planned Chicago Spire, at the confluence of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, has sat vacant since construction ceased in the wake of the Great Recession. In the next few years, the site will be home to a new two-tower residential development, 400 Lake Shore.

MFPRO+ News | Jun 25, 2024

New York mayor releases multi-year plan to address affordable housing crisis

The plan seeks to create and preserve affordable housing. It will incentivize the inclusion of permanently affordable and rent stabilized housing in new, multi-family construction projects.

Student Housing | Jun 25, 2024

P3 student housing project with 176 units slated for Purdue University Fort Wayne

A public/private partnership will fund a four-story, 213,000 sf apartment complex on Purdue University Fort Wayne’s (PFW’s) North Campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The P3 entity was formed exclusively for this property.

Apartments | Jun 25, 2024

10 hardest places to find an apartment in 2024

The challenge of finding an available rental continues to increase for Americans nation-wide. On average, there are eight prospective tenants vying for the same vacant apartment.

MFPRO+ News | Jun 24, 2024

‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ movement could create more affordable housing

The so-called “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) movement, where houses of worship convert their properties to housing, could help alleviate the serious housing crisis affecting many communities around the country.

Student Housing | Jun 20, 2024

How student housing developments are evolving to meet new expectations

The days of uninspired dorm rooms with little more than a bed and a communal bathroom down the hall are long gone. Students increasingly seek inclusive design, communities to enhance learning and living, and a focus on wellness that encompasses everything from meditation spaces to mental health resources.

MFPRO+ News | Jun 20, 2024

National multifamily outlook: Summer 2024

The multifamily sector continues to be strong in 2024, even when a handful of challenges are present. That is according to the Matrix Multifamily National Report for Summer 2024.

Multifamily Housing | Jun 17, 2024

Elevating multifamily properties through quiet luxury

As the demands of urban living continue to evolve, the need for a tranquil and refined home environment has never been more pronounced.

Multifamily Housing | Jun 14, 2024

AEC inspections are the key to financially viable office to residential adaptive reuse projects

About a year ago our industry was abuzz with an idea that seemed like a one-shot miracle cure for both the shockingly high rate of office vacancies and the worsening housing shortage. The seemingly simple idea of converting empty office buildings to multifamily residential seemed like an easy and elegant solution. However, in the intervening months we’ve seen only a handful of these conversions, despite near universal enthusiasm for the concept. 

Adaptive Reuse | Jun 13, 2024

4 ways to transform old buildings into modern assets

As cities grow, their office inventories remain largely stagnant. Yet despite changes to the market—including the impact of hybrid work—opportunities still exist. Enter: “Midlife Metamorphosis.”

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Legislation

Efforts to encourage more housing projects on California coast stall

A movement to encourage more housing projects along the California coast has stalled out in the California legislature. Earlier this year, lawmakers, with the backing of some housing activists, introduced a series of bills aimed at making it easier to build apartments and accessory dwelling units along California’s highly regulated coast. 

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021