The National Association of Realtors dedicated its daringly new, environmentally advanced building on Capitol Hill in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by several thousand Realtors last month.
Construction of the striking, glass-wrapped, award-winning structure creates a dramatic presence at 500 New Jersey Avenue with a breathtaking view of the U.S. Capitol, which is only three blocks away. The building is the first newly constructed building in the District of Columbia to meet “green” standards-high levels of environmental performance as set by the U.S. Green Building Council.
In dedicating the building, NAR President Walt McDonald said the building was more than a symbol of NAR’s growing strength and influence as the first million-member trade association in America.
“It is one more way we are achieving our mission as an association to be the leading advocate for our business and homeowners’ rights in our nation’s capital. It also represents the important work our members do to help America’s families achieve the dream of homeownership,” he said.
McDonald called the structure the Realtors’ own architectural masterpiece: “It’s an esthetic blend of wood, concrete, glass and steel that represents NAR’s aspirations, our members’ aspirations and the entire Realtor family.”
The NAR building was recently honored with two awards by the Washington Business Journal for best architecture and best financing. It was also named runner up for best urban office project and best sustainable growth project.
The building will house the Washington, D.C., operations of the Chicago-based association. Work on the interior of the $46-million structure is under way to make it ready for occupancy by this fall. NAR will occupy five floors of the 12-story building, including the top four floors, using about 40,000 square feet, with the balance of the 93,000 square feet to be leased. A rooftop facility will be used for social gatherings.
Groundbreaking on the Class “A” 12-story modern, environmentally sustainable building began in October 2002. The site, a reclaimed “brownfield” (contaminated ground) previously occupied by a gas station, was environmentally cleaned up under NAR oversight. The removal crew dug out and hauled away more than 24 feet of dirt to approved waste sites before construction began.
NAR expects to earn a certification from the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System for the structure. The U.S. Green Building Council awards LEED certification to building projects achieving high levels of environmental performance within certain categories.
The building’s efficient use of water and energy will benefit the environment while keeping operating costs down. The building uses an abundance of natural daylight, and the use of low-emitting materials helps create a worker- and visitor-friendly indoor environment.
Some of the “green” aspects of the building include:
• A landscaping plan that uses native plant species to reduce irrigation demands and captures rain water for reuse in irrigation.
• Efficient HVAC systems and a high-performance glass curtain wall to reduce energy use by as much as 30 percent compared to code standards.
• Zero use of CFC-refrigerants.
• High-recycled building materials.
• Smoking prohibitions throughout the office spaces.
• A carbon dioxide monitoring system to introduce fresh air in areas of increased occupancy.
Design concepts were developed by thearchitectural firms Graham Gund Architects of Cambridge, Mass.; Clark Redfield Architects of Charlottesville, Va.; and Bing Thom Architects of Vancouver, Canada.
Graham Gund Architects was winner of the design competition.
The firm was selected by a panel assembled by Bill Chapin, former president of the American Institute of Architects, and convened by NAR.
The selection team included George White, FAIA, former Architect of the Capitol; Harry Robinson III, FAIA, former dean of architecture at Howard University and chairman of the D.C. Commission of Fine Arts; Colden “Coke” Florance, FAIA, a prominent D.C. architect; Jim Helsel, chairman of NAR’s Real Property Operations Committee; Dale Colby, vice chairman of RPOC; Richard Rosenthal, chairman of the RPOC DC building subcommittee; Al Mansell, now NAR’s president-elect; and Steven Leader, past president of The Counselors of Real Estate.