Page 52 - Spring_2018

ArchDC Spring 2018.qxp_Fall 2017 2/22/18 9:13 AM Page 50

Lobby of Marie Reed.

however, were determined to be too expensive, and building as one that turns in and disengages to one that
consideration of them was dropped—a development that looks out and engages,” said Tracy Hucul, AIA, LEED
was a matter of some controversy in meetings with the AP, a member of QEA’s team for the project.
local community. With demolish-and-replace options set Deeper inside the school, additional daylight is
aside, design work focused on the remaining option of provided by two large skylights that were created by cutting
retaining and modernizing the existing facility. through the school’s barrel-vault ceiling. “Careful
QEA’s design for the project upgraded 136,025 square engineering was required to cut in the new feature sky-
feet of existing space and added 17,559 square feet of new lights located above the Media Center Stair and Science
space. Much of the new space was created by a glass-clad Commons,” said Jeff Luker, AIA, LEED AP, a principal
extension to the western wing on the side facing 18th at QEA. “New counterweight concrete was installed as
Street that admits ample daylight into multiple levels of these openings to keep the post-tensioned steel beams
the building. The extension houses a cascading stairway from springing upward when the barrel vault concrete
that connects the school to DC Department of Recreation was removed.”
facilities on the building’s lower levels. Immediately in front of the new extension is an
“For a building that was once a fortress, the addition LED-illuminated translucent scrim made from brush-
along 18th Street helps creates a transparency and connection blasted stainless steel that filters western sunlight during
to the outside community, flipping the character of the the day and projects the school’s name at night in large,

50 REFRESHER COURSE