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year, often involving foreign and American dignitaries of dramatically over the course of the project, but in this
very high rank, though usually with little fanfare (CSIS is case, the end result is remarkably similar to that early
fundamentally an academic institution that conducts its little model.”
research and hashes through ideas behind the scenes, until
detailed analysis and recommendations are ready for public CSIS describes itself as a “window on the world,” and
consumption). Complementing the conference facilities that phrase directly inspired the design of the principal
would be office space for the organization’s resident façade. It consists of a well-proportioned glass curtain wall
experts and more than 100 associate staff members. surrounded by an asymmetrical frame clad in pinkish
Tennessee marble—the same stone used on such DC
Like many properties in DC’s densely-packed down- landmarks as the National Gallery of Art (both the West
town, the deep, mid-block site that CSIS purchased is and East buildings) and the National Air & Space Museum.
hemmed in on three sides. Immediately to the east is the The tall base of the frame defines the entry and principal
University of California Washington Center, while to the conference facilities. The wide vertical pier to the right
west, just across a narrow alley, is the headquarters of the (as one faces the building) marks the main service zone,
Human Rights Campaign. Another narrow alley lies at including the elevator bank and restrooms. To the left is
the rear. For the design team, this tight context posed a slender, angled pier adjacent to the University of
multiple challenges, including the difficulty of bringing California building. At the top is the Board Room, which
adequate natural light to interior spaces. It also meant sits behind a glass wall angled sharply from the principal
that opportunities for significant exterior architectural plane of the façade, creating space for an outdoor terrace
expression would be limited to the one façade along sheltered by a thin horizontal band that completes the
Rhode Island Avenue. masonry frame.
With those constraints in mind, Hickok Cole began While the frame-and-window motif alludes to CSIS’s
the design process with an internal mini-competition, in global mission, the building’s distinctive geometries deftly
which about 10 members of the firm spent a couple of relate it to the immediate urban context. “The building
intensive days developing ideas. “Our goal was to come genuflects toward Scott Circle,” said Hickok, who noted
out with three to four concepts,” explained Hickok. “It’s that the trapezoidal columns along the ground floor
always been our experience that everybody just gravitates façade not only enhance security and privacy for the
toward the best ideas. This time, everyone focused on lobby, but also direct views from inside toward the green
one teeny, four-by-four-inch model of that [Rhode Island space of the circle. Similarly, the narrow triangular
Avenue] façade. Usually, the initial design changes skylight above the top-floor terrace evokes a giant arrow
Main conference room, with the anteroom visible in the background.
Photo © Christopher Barrett
30 WINDOW ON THE WORLD
