The Department of Human Services for the DC government at 645 H st is a 100,000 sf office and service center renovation as well as building modernization.  645 H st is a 1980’s office building conversion to a mixed use project with a DC Government Tenant over a 10,000 square foot retail space.  This LEED certified project has 1 level of underground parking with 5 levels above grade.  The flagship for this DC government service center features high end, rich finishes that provide a sense of comfort and trust for the DC residents.  The ground floor entrance lobby offers independent access and circulation for the employees and service center patrons.  A vertical tower of textured porcelain tile wraps the elevator core and provides a backdrop for the interconnecting staircase with glass handrails to the second floor service center.  The balcony overlook frames out stylized pendants and rich textured wall and ceiling paint.  Service center guests wait in a comfortable lounge featuring new technology for calling and servicing patrons.  A new computer center allows DC residents to perform many needs that previously required meeting with an agent, speeding up the process and making the visit more enjoyable.  Signage and way finding also add to the ease of circulation and use of the space.  The upper floor office levels feature an open plan contributing to its LEED certification and bringing in natural light to the space.  The Core restrooms were upgraded on each floor and pantries and conference spaces are provided throughout.  The third floor features a large conferencing and training center with retractable partitions and training tables.  The retail façade and office lobby entrance on street level were modified to have modern metal panels and storefront and were enhanced with layers of lighting, signage and a granite base.  New roof top HVAC and screening were coordinated to provide appropriate fresh air requirements for LEED Certification.

In need of a gathering place and interactive center for the patrons and employees of Crystal City, Vornado sought a solution for a former food court.  They created a retail row that surrounds a generous lounge area.  This area includes varied seating groups with lounge and café style tables as well as a bar height community table.  A new glass handrail staircase was provided in the vaulted atrium space to provide access to the plaza’s above.  Graphics and monitors displaying news and events where dispersed throughout the area.  Ceramic tile and rich wall finishes provide a door step to the Health focused retailers within.  Each storefront creates a unique opportunity for branding and signage by the retailers within.  Specialty lighting and millwork round out the gathering area that has become a huge success for patrons employees of the Crystal City Shops and surrounding offices.

The re-positioning of the Georgetown Park Mall, delivered by Vornado and acquired buy Jamestown Properties, was a $75 million dollar renovation that resulted in 11 medium-box tenants, added parking and a vision for reactivating Georgetown as a retail center for the city of DC and neighboring Arlington.  Visitors will hardly remember the former interior mall with 3 story atriums and brass finishes and a hanging garden feel.  All tenants now have storefront entrances along the sought after M st addresses in Georgetown.  The structural modification and added vertical circulation alone were sizable in additional to adding a new half level of parking.  The façade design was carefully navigated through the Old Georgetown Board and the Lease-up was heavily supported by the team as the demising within changed to accommodate future users.

One Loudoun is a mixed use development in Ashburn Virginia consisting of 700,000 sf of retail and entertainment tenants and 3 million sf of class A office space.  Principles, while at a previous firm, oversaw all common are interior design projects, including but not limited to multiple office lobbies, core restrooms and providing semi-finished shell space for retailers.  Additionally, aiding in the leasing by providing detailed LOD’s and leasing diagrams for the developer, brokers and potential tenants.  As THE downtown for much of Loudoun County, this town center development boasts a balanced offering of goods and services to accommodate the residents and provides a homegrown flavor sought after by visitors and locals alike.

Ontario 17 is an 80 unit Condominium in the vibrant Adams Morgan neighborhood in Washington DC with 9,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor.  Delivering a micro-unit concept, the project offers high end finishes and appliances to buyers.  A grand lobby alludes to the historic Ontario Theater which the site previously boasted.  The Canopy and marquis displays were salvaged and incorporated into the Deco Style Architecture.  A roof top amenity with a fire feature provides spectacular views of downtown Washington DC.  The lobby offers a gathering space with rich finishes and a view through fireplace.  The mail boxes and millwork is seamlessly tied into the design and a grand staircase provides access to two levels of below ground parking.  The typical corridors feature a custom carper pattern and unique door treatments, making each owner feel a sense of arrival to their homes.  

The corporate headquarters for this multi-family brokerage company is unique in its retail location along the booming 14th street corridor.  The office serves as touchdown space for the brokerage group and features a storefront conference room with an oversized custom rug and display space for projects on the boards.  The solid surface reception desk serves as the perfect backdrop to the highly visible storefront.  A mezzanine level hospitality suite allows clients to interact with staff and view potential properties.  The corporate colors are used throughout the space and stained concrete floors anchor the retail space.

This mixed use project in Denver Colorado, has 620 units and an extensive amenity package.  A 5000 square foot lobby with two lounge areas and a leasing office, has two featured entrances allowing access from the street as well as from the interior garage.  An aggressive curved feature with a cold rolled steel finish and complimenting stained concrete floor, leads to the residential elevator lobby.  A water and fire feature in the lobby is complimented by industrial finishes and unique lighting. 

The building and its relationship to the internal parking garage creates three unique courtyards that have immense amenity appeal.  One of the courtyards is designed to be a peaceful garden for meditation and relaxation, featuring green roof systems and additional other plantings.  Ipe wood paver systems and wood bench and trellises give the courtyard a very zen feeling.  The second courtyard is for gaming and fun providing a bocce court and two bean bag courts lined with artificial turf.  A central bar has a keg-er-ator and lots of surface for catering and entertaining.  The largest courtyard is two levels and features an outdoor theater with tiered seating.  The upper level features a full grilling area and outdoor dining.  On the lower level the back of the movie screen features a 12’ tall water feature and an open green for picnics or throwing the football.  The green is also flanked by an outdoor dining area and fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs.

The roof top clubhouse sits atop the parking garage and focuses views to the mountains to the west.  The outdoor pool and hot tub, sit in front of a state of the art gym.  Directly adjacent is the clubroom with sloped to 17 feet ceiling that faces west and has retractable doors to the exterior.  And indoor theater and gaming room as well as a pool table, add to the full entertaining kitchen in this space.  Hardwood floors and carpeting ground the space where the views are the star of the design.

This 17 story residential tower is one of the first projects to be completed around the Springhill Ave Metro station on the Silver line is Tysons Corner.  The voluminous lobby with leasing office and mailroom, has a custom stone patterned floor and light features.  Eclectic furniture provides seating and lounging as well as a communal table for resident interaction and technology use.  A large sliding door gives way to the leasing offices designed to reflect the high style of the project.  The elevator lobby sparkles and provides shuttle access to the mid tower outdoor dining area and herb garden, as well as the rooftop clubhouse and pool.   The clubhouse features a fitness center with incomparable views and a private yoga studio.  Additionally there are spa-like restroom and locker room that provide access to the roof top pool.  The clubhouse has a full bar and display kitchen area as well as multi-tiered seating to provide views of the pool deck and the terrain beyond.  Custom ceiling treatments and furniture, including pool tables and shuffle board, make this space ideal for entertaining and relaxing.

This visitor’s center for the Japanese Embassy features a SKIF office space, 140 seat theater, information center and art gallery area.  All of the finishes are emblematic of Japanese design.  A striated bamboo floor runs the length of the reception and gallery where the windows are screened with traditional Japanese Shoji Screens.  The entry has a tastefully illuminated rock garden, and origami like wall coverings.  Natural stone security and reception desks have graining that is representative of both water and wood.  An innovative sliding rail and mounting system allows for the gallery area to be flexible and effective.  The focal point at the end of the long gallery is the raised platform and leather tufted doors that lead to the theater.  The theater is embanked and provides a raised stage area for performances and lectures.  A state of the art technology room provides projection, sound and audio/visual and lighting control for the space.  Accessible restrooms feature Toto fixtures and rich finishes.  

This 80,000 square foot headquarters for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement was completed with an accelerated schedule and was LEED Gold.  The main lobby features custom patriotic Wall coverings and large format marble ceramic tile.  Additionally off the main lobby are multiple conference room options for various size meetings and training opportunities.  A large central pantry and kitchen suite offer employees an elegant break room rom experience to enhance collaboration and productivity.  Elements of wood and stone are carried thought the space and featured in the secondary lobby as well as other major intersections of the circulation throughout.  A government and corporate color scheme was enhanced with unique carpet patterning and specialized paint, glazing and film treatments at the interior office doors.  The open office layout and energy efficient lighting and HVAC make this LEED Project a success and productive work environment for the tenants.

This 3,200-sf restaurant in Orlando, Florida has proven to be unlike any other concept that Orlando has been exposed to over the course of its development. Completed in September 2009, the fusion of Japanese and French cuisine is complimented by a serene and open interior design, integrating all aspects of Wa Restaurant.

There is little separation between the dining areas, sake bar, lounge, and sushi bar, allowing for a seamless flow of aesthetics and energy. Inspired by the established design style of the Asian regions, the space is expressive, without being ostentatious; there is a soft spoken expression that creates an emphasis on the space itself. The darkened hues and carefully controlled lighting of the space create a temperament that evokes a solitude and serenity in this open, flowing space.

The entrance to the space features a dark stone clad wall with an elongated light box and simple signage. Patrons are greeted by the Maitre d’, who resides behind a custom marble reception desk. The wall wraps into the lounge with its rock-covered, sparsely lit trench, which project bursts of light onto the textured wall. The rich lacquer coated wall panels in the lounge and a faux plastered wall finish in the dining area complement the rust colored metallic floors.

Further layering and textures are exposed through the contemporary plush fabrics and rigid undulating details at the banquettes and at both bars. Even the restrooms embody the serene feeling of the restaurant, with silver embossed black tiles and unique granite slab counter tops that carry the graining of a wood flitch.

The successful integration of this cuisine concept and design has helped Wa Restaurant capture, in the Orlando area, a refined and progressive audience that has sought to find such a setting and outlet.

Located in Potomac Maryland, this popular salon owner had found that he had outgrown his current space and looked to occupy more space in a neighboring building.  Not only was he increasing the size of his current pursuit but he was intending to add a men’s salon as well.  With eclectic taste and a desire to make an impact, the design developed into a swank retail space, which on the women’s side evoked an airy classical look, while on the men’s side a tailored masculine space.  It’s as if the two spaces residing side by side were shaped to create the aesthetic of men’s and women’s parlors of the past.  The 3200 square foot space allocates about one third to the men’s side which is furnished with 6 leather studded, Italian barber chairs and millwork with the shaving and washing sinks built-in for one stop grooming.  The women’s side features 12 hair cutting stations which were modularly designed for the millworker to piece together the seamless storage, full length mirror and floor to ceiling light fixture.  Both sides present a tremendous opportunity for retail as the modular hair cutting stations, double as retail display on the back side.  The furniture is a diverse combination of styles and fabrics that further develop this whimsical spot.  A custom translucent fabric chandelier with cascading crystals sits in the center of the women’s side to dress the structural column that commands the center of the room and an undulating layered film pattern graces the storefront to not only mask the afternoon sun, but also to create intrigue and allure.  The back-of-house areas were kept simple and quiet as they serve as the color lounge and hair washing area.  This helped to achieve the budget of $480,000, and an on time move-in date in late August of 2010.  The space has received many compliments from this affluent greater Washington DC community and has also helped to inspired additional high end prospects in this retail center where many of the tenants find that their captive audience prevents pushing them towards upgrading their own spaces and images.