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done in a badly deteriorated structure whose designation as a National
Historic Landmark protected not only its exterior but also, unusually, its
interior from being demolished or altered without permission from the DC
Historic Preservation Review Board or the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
The project employed high-tech methods to build an accurate computer
model of the building without damaging its historic fabric. Converting the
building’s galleries into usable classrooms and studios was a particular
challenge because “historic landmark restrictions prevented alteration to
the coved ceilings or ornamentation,” the firm said. “The solution was to
consider the classrooms as objects in the larger space, with code-required
ingress and egress wrapped around acoustically buffered classrooms.”
Every intervention was designed to be reversible.
“Perhaps the most dramatic space in the building, [the Colonnade]
is now returned to its former grandeur,” the firm said. “Laylights and
skylights above are refurbished, restoring natural light to the space. To
accomplish this, all ducts, conduits and piping in the attic have been
rerouted with surgical precision.”
The project “reimagines the building as a state-of-the-art environment
for arts education and exhibition, complete with four floors of classroom,
studio, administration, fabrication and gallery space. Several original
galleries have been repurposed as light-filled studio spaces, with care taken
to protect the historic fabric.” The jurors deemed it the most beautiful of
all the classic buildings they saw. They were also happy to see that the
building as renovated retains its function as a gallery.
The project was previously covered in the Winter 2019 issue of ARCHITECTUREDC.

Restored Colonnade at the Photo by Ron Blunt © LEO A DALY
Corcoran School.