AIA|DC honors two LEO A DALY projects with 2020 Chapter Design Awards

Corcoran School of the Arts & Design received an Award of Excellence in Historic Resources and Preservation and The AYA received an Award of Excellence in Architecture 

The 2020 AIA|DC Chapter Design Awards honored two LEO A DALY projects: Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at The George Washington University and The AYA, a joint venture project with Studio Twenty Seven Architecture.

“We are honored to receive two AIA|DC Chapter Design Awards this year, for two distinctly different projects,” said Bill Kline, managing principal in Washington, D.C. “It demonstrates our commitment to client success, the range of our expertise in a variety of markets and our ability to deliver great design.”

Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at The George Washington University
Award of Excellence in Historic Resources and Preservation

LEO A DALY’s phase one renovations of The George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts & Design marks the most significant update of the Beaux-Arts landmark in 90 years. The historically sensitive renovation reimagines the 1897 gallery as a state-of-the-art environment for arts education and exhibition, complete with four floors of classroom, studio, administration, fabrication and exhibition space; modernized fire-suppression systems; mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades; and accessible ramps, restrooms and elevators.

The redesign marks a new era for the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, a revered arts institution that was absorbed by The George Washington University in 2014, merging with the university’s existing arts and design school. The project preserves an important piece of Washington, D.C.’s architectural and cultural fabric, allowing the Corcoran to continue its legacy as a training ground for fine artists and designers while gaining a platform for engagement within a comprehensive university. The renovation preserves what is widely considered to be an architectural masterpiece, originally designed by Ernest Flagg, while meeting the needs of 21st century learning. Educational functions that were previously housed in the basement and sub-basement are now elevated, with every level featuring a mix of social, learning and studio spaces.

Designers used a delicate touch in preserving historic interior finishes of the Flagg Building while transforming many of its functional parameters. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and many of its interior spaces were landmarked in 2015, meaning that they could not be significantly altered from the original design intent.

Learn more about the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design.

The AYA
Award of Excellence in Architecture
Joint venture with Studio Twenty Seven Architecture

The AYA is an affordable, short-term family housing site commissioned by the District of Columbia Department of General Services. Located in Ward 6, this neighborhood-based program provides a safe environment for families with access to service-enriched programming that will create stability, helping them exit homelessness.

The joint venture team’s design of the building respects the surrounding neighborhood, including the existing tree canopies, while maximizing daylighting and views for tenants. The building complements the developing southwest Washington, D.C. skyline and creates an optimal living experience for its tenants. The joint venture team engaged extensively with the community throughout the design process, resulting in thoughtful design embraced by the neighborhood.

The site includes fifty family housing units, with seven to ten units per floor. Each floor also contains community rooms, laundry facilities, private and family bathrooms and outdoor play areas. The design of each floor is characterized by a distinct organizing color, which improves the sense community and provides simple wayfinding. Additional amenities include on-site parking, an indoor play and activity space, a conference room, a federally qualified health service clinic and administrative space for staff and providers. The site is designed with several energy-efficient and sustainable features, including a green roof and high efficiency windows, HVAC system and plumbing fixtures.

Learn more about The AYA.