Page 94 - Winter_2018

ArchDC Winter 2018.qxp_Winter 2018 11/27/18 9:43 AM Page 92

Presidential Citation for Sustainable Design

Marvin Gaye Recreation Center
Washington, DC

ISTUDIO Architects
Landscape Architects: Landscape Architecture Bureau +
Symbiosis
Structural Engineers: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
MEP/F Engineers: Setty & Associates
Civil Engineers: A. Morton Thomas & Associates
Technology Consultants: Educational Systems Planning
Glazing/Screen Installers: Delray Glass
LEED Consultant: Dan Triman
General Contractor: MCN Build
Circulation space within the recreation center.
Named for the famed singer who grew up in the neighborhood,
the Marvin Gaye Recreation Center, by ISTUDIO Architects, was
conceived to advance the mission of the DC Department of Parks
and Recreation by promoting health, well-being, and conservation
of the natural environment. The facility includes a community
room, fitness equipment, music room, and other amenities for area
residents. It is adjacent to a softball field, general sports field, and
basketball courts.
The center’s striking design derives in part from its location in
a 100-year floodplain. A grassy berm with terraced steps elevates the
base of the building, while the upper level, which projects outward
to capture views of a nearby stream, is supported by slender
struts. A rakishly angled, perforated-metal screen not only helps
shade the south side of the building, but also becomes, in effect,
a giant sign announcing the center’s presence. Large-scale
photomurals on the exterior and on interior glass partitions The center as seen from the woods.
simultaneously commemorate the center’s namesake and add
visual depth to the spaces.
Among the facility’s most notable sustainability features is
the natural ventilation system. In common spaces, the system is
automatic—when conditions warrant, dampers above the windows
open to admit fresh air on the lower level and exhaust warm air on
the second level. In program rooms, indicator lights turn green to
let occupants know when to open windows for optimal airflow.

The Marvin Gaye Recreation Center.

92 SPECIAL MENTIONS Photos © Anice Hoachlander / Hoachlander Davis Photography