Page 73 - Spring_2019

ArchDC Spring 2019.qxp_Spring 2019 2/20/19 5:19 PM Page 71

Lobby before renovation.

The Parkway
The Parkway, at 3220 Connecticut Avenue, NW, was designed by
architect/developer Frank Russell White and completed in 1927.
The first residential co-op in DC, it failed to attract an adequate
number of buyers and went bankrupt by mid-1928. The building
was subsequently converted to rental apartments.
While not a historic landmark itself, the Parkway is a
contributing structure to the Cleveland Park Historic District, and
thus any modifications to the exterior were subject to review by
the DC Historic Preservation Review Board. Moreover, the property
abuts Rock Creek Park, meaning that both the federal Commission
of Fine Arts and the National Park Service would have a say over
external changes. The interior, however, was not subject to design
review by either DC or federal authorities.
In contrast to the elaborate Sedgwick Gardens just up the avenue,
the Parkway is rather understated. Its main entrance consists of an
ambiguous pair of doors shielded by a canopy suspended from
chains anchored to the brick wall above. The architects initially
proposed modifying the front façade to create a clearer entry
sequence, but the DC preservation office would not allow it.
Instead, the designers simply restored the canopy and turned their
attention to the interior.
The Parkway’s existing lobby was a gloomy, barren box with

faded finishes. Here the architects felt that a significant renovation
was in order. They replaced the dingy terrazzo floor, added a new
staircase to the lower level, introduced gleaming brass railings and
warm-toned wood cabinetry, and replaced the traditional chandeliers
with sleek, highly geometric fixtures. A pair of swoopy Hans Wegner
chairs and simple upholstered benches lend some Mid-Century
Modern flair, providing an aesthetic bridge between the original
architecture and the present day.
While preservation authorities balked at significant changes to
the front façade, they approved a major revamp of the U-shaped
building’s courtyard, which looks out over the park. To enhance
access to the outdoor space, Bonstra | Haresign created a new double-
height lounge area, which was made possible by eliminating one
apartment unit above. Expansive windows admit natural light and
afford views to the courtyard, which now comes off like a private,
manicured corner of Rock Creek Park.

UNCOMMON SPACES 71