Restoration Award
SmithGroup
Washington, DC
The Virginia Mae Center, located on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral, reclaims a 1929 neo-Gothic structure that once served as the College of Preachers. For nearly 80 years, the 27,000-square-foot building provided dormitories and educational space for religious study. In 2008, changing economics closed the college, and the structure sat vacant, deteriorating, for more than 10 years. With support from private gifts, the cathedral embarked on a comprehensive plan to transform the college into a contemporary education and conference center.
Extensive interior demolition enabled the team to survey the structure and develop a design strategy. The original floor plan, a warren of small rooms and narrow hallways dispersed across 15 different levels, was a challenge. The site’s steep grade added to the accessibility puzzle. The solution: two elevators, one for the guest rooms and another specifically designed with three stops to allow barrier-free access from the historic main lobby to the Refectory and Library. The site was also regraded for an accessible ramp-path at the building rear. The result is a sensitively designed project that connects renovated historic spaces with newly designed ones while encouraging appreciation of the craft of the restored historic features.
Jury Comments
This is a fitting restoration that captures the spirit of the nearby cathedral. Very attentive to historic details, finishes, and lighting.
Project Team Members
Jim Shepherd, AIA, LEED AP / Principal, Director of Historic Preservation
Susan Pommerer, AIA, CDT / LEED AP, Principal, Historic Preservation
Bettina Neudert Brown / Principal – Architecture
Kee Choo / Associate, Architecture
Cheryl Brown / Principal – Interior Design
Kenz Meliani / Associate – Electrical Engineering
Kyle Lehman / Principal – Fire Protection Engineering
Project Consultants
AllenBuilt/Eichberg
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
AMT
Haley & Aldrich
ParkerRodriguez
Acoustical Design Collaborative Ltd.
Architectural Design Studio
Liberty Elevator Experts
Delaware Elevator
Phase Shift
Harvey Hotel
EverGreene Architectural Arts
Washington Workplace
Pillar Development
Photo Credit / Colin Winterbottom Photography
