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ArchDC Fall 2017.qxp_Fall 2017 8/10/17 1:07 PM Page 44

Conference room as seen from the main staircase.

Developers Stephany Yu and Matt Chervenak had previously architects such as Eric Owen Moss have created a distinctive and
done business in Shanghai, China. When they looked for office sought-after precinct there for “creative class” companies, often
space in the Washington suburbs, they sought something “exciting by adding new floors of intense architectural elaboration atop
and interesting and inspiring,” according to Yu. When no such existing boxy buildings. This needed some modification to translate
space seemed to exist, they decided to create their own. So to Rockville, of course—many of the Culver City buildings are
perhaps it is not surprising that they selected an architect in downright bizarre—but it was a sound precedent.
much the same way that individual homeowners often do: they McInturff’s take on the Culver City model involved adding
looked in magazines (ARCHITECTUREDC most notably, we state a glassy third floor above the existing two-story warehouses,
with pride!), saw a McInturff house that spoke to them, and and carving a new atrium space in the middle. Openings were
gave him a call. “They didn’t ask if I had done much office cut into formerly solid masonry walls to provide windows.
space,” McInturff noted slyly, “and I chose not to tell them.” Structural elements, both pre-existing and new, were exposed to
Yu and Chervenak had purchased three adjoining 1960s full effect, and the juxtaposition between the two creates immense
warehouses in the Parklawn Drive area of Rockville. The area is visual interest, especially in the office areas. A layer of dark gray,
chock-a-block in character, illustrative of Robert Venturi’s highly textured brick was added to the exteriors. Bold red elements
“messy vitality” concept, with buildings of all sizes, uses, styles, were introduced, many of them using corrugated metal siding,
ages, and levels of maintenance, amid oceans of parking lots. even on the interior. The atrium is animated by stairs, a steel
But the site is somewhat more pedestrian-friendly than one bridge, the elevator tower, and windows into adjacent office
might assume: the area has a Walk Score of 56, which is defined areas, while the office space itself has astoundingly high ceilings
as “Somewhat walkable—some errands can be accomplished on and fantastic light from generous windows.
foot.” It also enjoys proximity to the Twinbrook Metro Station. If that were the entire story, the results would still be
McInturff immediately thought of Culver City, a post- impressive. But in architecture in general and adaptive
industrial area of Los Angeles. Adventurous designs by trendy reuse in particular, little is as it seems. McInturff architects

44 HOME IS WHERE THE INNOVATION IS