Page 28 - Fall 2019

Double-height space at the center of the building. Photo © Julia Heine

Chapter Design Award in Interior Architecture

Politics & Prose Staff Offices
Washington, DC

McInturff Architects
Structural Engineers: 1200 Architectural Engineers, PLLC
General Contractor: Added Dimensions LLC

Politics and Prose, the venerable Washington bookstore and
center for political activism, has been in an expansionary phase
recently, opening two new retail stores at the District Wharf and
Union Market. Facing a need for additional space to accommodate
its growing activities and staff, Politics and Prose commissioned
McInturff Architects to develop a new office build-out for 50
employees while expanding the flagship store on Connecticut
Avenue, NW. McInturff sought to provide a comfortable, modest,
Interior bay window.
and welcoming environment, in accordance with the bookseller’s
longstanding ethos.
The architects converted a vacated drycleaner’s for this Besides offices, a quarter of this new space is devoted to
expansion, adding a fourth retail bay and about 3,500 square feet to additional retail space for the bookstore. With tin ceilings and cherry
the original 11,500-square-foot space. The grade of the site allowed shelves and display tables, the retail portion of the expansion is
McInturff to provide open and closed work spaces split between library-like, but refreshing, open, and light. In a city where new
two stories, so that Politics and Prose could finally bring all its commercial retail inventory is often too large to support small
office staff under one roof. McInturff stripped the building to its businesses, the natural lateral growth of Politics and Prose along
bare bones, leaving all existing surfaces exposed. In demolishing this stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase represents a
the drycleaner unit, the architects recycled all the framing lumber modest and sustainable expansion of a beloved local brand. Long
and used it as woodwork in the new office area. A skylit atrium live the brick and mortar bookstore.
and new windows at the rear bring natural light in, enhancing the
office atmosphere.

26 COMMERCIAL INTERESTS