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ArchDC Spring 2018.qxp_Fall 2017 2/22/18 9:14 AM Page 52

Renovated public pool at Marie Reed. Photo © Joe Romeo

two halves of the center. A community gathering room with a heavy protective walls, and minimal windows. It was important to
restored hearth is provided on the lowest level of the bridge, and a the community and to us as designers that we retain the communal
student town hall performance space is provided on the upper level. strengths and the same time break away from the heavy envelope
The area below the bridge is just now being finished, and it is very and infuse the building with light. The concept design—acoustically
much improved. We are confident that the refreshed character of distinct classrooms organized around special student commons—
this area will create fun and inspired entries into Community of was embraced early by both our design team and the community
Hope, the Children’s Hospital WIC clinic, and the United Planning as a way to leverage the best characteristics of the original building
Organization infant day centers that front along Champlain Street.” and at the same time adapt the building to serve the diverse and
Regarding changes to the facility’s interior floor plan, “the inspired community that has evolved in Adams Morgan.”
school was originally designed with open-space classrooms— QEA devoted considerable attention to the project’s interior
basically as a school without interior walls— which was a trending materials and finishes. “Working the scale of the building, and the
teaching philosophy at the time of construction,” Hucul said. robust concrete frame, we have used large format, bright colored
“Today, this mode of teaching has proven to be more problematic, and gently textured ceramic tile throughout the building,” Luker
and a need for classrooms with acoustic separation was evident. said. “This new material in collaboration with clear finish maple
Since the culture of the school was rooted in the use of open, and glass provide an important and communicative counter point
shared spaces, the new design of the interior clustered groups of to the existing concrete frame.”
classrooms around large shared spaces. Small, open gathering The materials and color pallet, Hucul added, “highlight the
areas were also incorporated throughout the school to provide multi-culture nature of the community and the school’s connection
additional open spaces for collaboration and to accommodate with the Spanish Embassy, while creating a warm and welcoming
other modes of learning.” space embodied in the family essence of community. We were
Some of the school’s larger program spaces, Hucul added, inspired by a variety of bright and bold colors found in textile,
“were not adequately sized or equipped to handle the school’s food, and architecture from places around the world, and the
population.” Consequently, “usable space was identified above the warmth and familiar nature of wood and brick. These principles
pool to provide the needed space for the cafeteria while at the same informed our color selection, use of natural maple, and preservation
time maintaining the grandeur and beauty of the pool space below. of the existing interior brick. The large-format wall tile incorpo-
We also vertically divided the tiny and very steep auditorium into rates embossed graphic textures that relate to patterns used in a
a music room for the school and presentation room for Community diversity of cultures.”
of Hope below. The gym was also slightly enlarged and combined Luker said his favorite aspect of the design for the renovation
with the program of the auditorium to created a flexible space that is “our success at selectively removing portions of the fortress-
could accommodate the entire school.” like building envelope and the associated infusion of daylight
The facility “was built shortly after the riots that were triggered throughout the building. The building is now much better
by the assassination of Martin Luther King,” Luker added. “The connected with its context—both from the outside in, and from
existing building was fortress-like, with large communal spaces, the inside out.”

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