Page 53 - ArchDC Fall 2018

ArchDC Fall 2018.qxp_Fall 2018 8/27/18 8:34 AM Page 51

Photo © Michael Moran

Wine production area. Photo © Michael Moran
Whereas the Lumber Shed is notable for its brawny, would occupy the entire project, but also needed even
grey concrete structural frame and all-glass perimeter, the more space than the original design provided.
Photo © Michael Moran
District Winery building is more delicate and slightly more The key functional challenge was creating sufficient
opaque, its skin a mix of glass panels and warm-toned pre-and post-function space for special events—something
wood. Thanks to the gentle convex curve of its plaza- that typical retail tenants would not have required. “We
facing front, its set-back upper floor, and its generous suggested adding a mezzanine level,” said Bill Young,
terraces, the building projects a nautical character that senior project manager at HapstakDemetriou+, “which
also alludes to the site’s naval history. would accommodate the flux between weddings, meetings,
The building is also notable for its unabashed embrace etc. That way, for example, they could move everybody
of its riverside location. “One of the things that struck me downstairs after a wedding ceremony and then flip the
profoundly, having grown up in the Washington area, upstairs space into reception layout.” Meanwhile, the
was realizing the opportunity to bring the city and the winemaking facilities and restaurant could continue to
waterfront together in a way that they previously weren’t,” operate normally.
said Jordan Goldstein, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, regional The wine production process itself required additional
managing principal in Gensler’s DC office. “There are not modifications to the base building. In order to facilitate
as many places as one would think where you could be light and temperature control in the winemaking area, which
experiencing the waterfront. Our building has steps in it is surrounded by glass on three sides, HapstakDemetriou+
that are purposeful, to make the most of views.” decided to create a secondary structure within the building
Gensler was well into schematic design when Forest perimeter. The result is a framework of glue-laminated
City reached an agreement with the proprietors of an urban (“glulam”) yellow pine beams and columns that recalls
winery in Brooklyn to open a second location at the Yards. the rustic structures of traditional rural wineries, though
The winemakers directly hired HapstakDemetriou+ to modernized by crisply detailed connections. This wood
design the interiors, which include the winery itself, a framework extends into the restaurant and special event
roughly 100-seat restaurant, and the special event space. areas, thus tying the distinct interior functions together.
Meanwhile, Gensler, working in cooperation with the Two towering, refrigerated wine bottle racks provide
winery and the interior architecture firm, began modifying an additional visual link between the ground floor and
the base building to suit the tenant, which not only the mezzanine.

EAT, DRINK, AND GET MARRIED 51