JUNE 2009 E-NEWSLETTER

Project Spotlight

Wallace King Domike & Reiskin, PLLC Headquarters

Design Highlights: Complex Structural System Curved Architectural Millwork Panel Ceiling Cherry + Marble Details

After recently completing the partial renovations for the 127,000 sf offices of Fulbright & Jaworksi and the 90,000 sf offices of Van Ness Feldman, OTJ worked with Wallace King Domike & Reiskin, PLLC (WKDR), a law firm specializing in litigation and arbitration of complex commercial cases, to design their new 20,000 sf headquarters at 2900 K Street NW in historic Georgetown.

WKDR sought to expand its offices to a new location and create a unique identity and sense of high quality within a moderate budget. So, OTJ worked with WKDR and their broker to find the right space to meet their goals and found it on the 5th floor at 2900 K Street NW.

This location posed several challenges including: a unique building form, complex structural system, and an extremely narrow elevator corridor.

OTJ resolved these issues by:

• Creating a recessed and angled demising wall with glass panels. As clients step off of the elevator onto the 5th floor, they are now welcomed with a more spacious entrance. The visitor is lead from the entry to the reception desk, to the formal conference room and its feature window garden admitting abundant daylight and interest.
  
  
• Incorporating an inverted curved architectural millworkpanel ceiling that utilizes natural stained cherry and sets the basis for details throughout the space. This area also functions as the control point for the varied conference spaces including formal, video teleconference and large meeting room.
  
  
• Arranging partner and associate offices on the perimeter for better views and natural light that streams through to the corridors and adjacent administrative workstations. OTJ also designed geometric ceiling plates that outline the workstations, adding dimension to the corridors.
  
  

OTJ also designed their paralegal offices, a copy/work room, multiple file and storage functions, and a main pantry that offers multiple dining options in a colorful and comfortable design.

Other recently completed law firm projects include Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. and Wenderoth Lind & Ponack, LLP and currently, OTJ is renovating an office for Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP in downtown DC. _________________________________________________________

Meet the Team

Louis Emmanuel Gauci, AIA, NCARB - PARTNER

OTJ believes thoughtful, appropriate design is key to a sucessful project. During a 20-year career in museum design on projects such as The Detroit Institute of Arts (MI), The Zibiwing Cultural Center (MI), The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian (NM), The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (NM), The Museum of Fine Arts (NM), Center for Southwest Studies (CO), The Library of Congress (DC), and The Museum of the American Indian (DC), Lou gained invaluable experience in working with some of the world's greatest treasures created by various cultures throughout different time periods.

His attention to detail stems from this experience in developing master plans for art and cultural museums and in designing a range of spaces from individual galleries to large, multiple-roomed gallery suites to display paintings, graphics, sculpture, textiles, objects, and artifacts. He brought this exciting experience and passion for interior architecture to OTJ three years ago.

As one of six firm partners at OTJ, Lou manages Studio 3 and led his team in designing the Wallace King Domike & Reiskin, PLLC Headquarters featured above. Lou strives to go beyond the expected and achieve a special sense of space that embraces those who work there. His goal is to achieve a harmonious and complementary environment and experience of both art and architecture for tenants and visitors of the space.
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On the Boards

Office of Cable Television - OTJ Architects is currently working with the District of Columbia in designing its new studios. An adaptive reuse of the former McKinley Technical High School in DC, OTJ is redesigning the interior including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, on two to three floors (22,000 sf per floor) for housing their high definition studios and adjacent control rooms and equipment.
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In the News

In the May 2009 issue of Architectural Record, OTJ's Kevin Sneed, AIA, is recognized for his service as a 2009 Juror for Interiors in the Honor Awards article.
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Did You Know?

OTJ Architects is a multi-cultural company with staff from about a dozen countries including: Barbados, Columbia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Kuwait, Malta, Morocco, Turkey, and the USA.
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Complimentary Needs Analysis

Medical Design Services

Healthcare is one of America's top priorities and at OTJ we seek to enhance the quality of life through sensitive design. Our extensive experience in strategic space planning and implementation ensures that our client's goals are met and our design effectively fits the needs of the practice. We listen and provide a smart design at a competitive price.

Our knowledge in maintaining square footages, negotiating with real estate teams, and strategically organizing physician groups within the most effective locations of a floor plate, will make it easy to create a soothing environment where patients and doctors can interact seamlessly.

We'll work with you to establish a budget that includes all architectural elements, as well mechanical, electrical and plumbing needs.

To learn more, contact Julie Owens at 202-621-1311 or owens@otj.com.
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MARCH 2009 E-NEWSLETTER

Project Spotlight

OTJ Designs 64,000 Sq Ft Headquarters on Massachusetts Ave for The American Legacy Foundation and Achieves LEED Gold New Construction Status

Design Highlights: Research Facility, 100 Seat Theatre, Roof Garden, 1 of only 2 LEED Gold NC Certified Buildings in DC

OTJ worked with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) to move their offices from 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW to a new location, so OTJ knew the building was vacant and available. The CFO of The American Legacy Foundation, Tony O'Toole, a long-time client of OTJ's called on a Friday and asked if OTJ could tour, program, and test-fit the building over the weekend, so that he could submit his offer to purchase the building the following week. The rest is history - Legacy is now headquartered at 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, one of only two LEED Gold New Construction Certified Buildings in DC.



OTJ refined the programming to meet Legacy's goals. Well known for their truth campaign to prevent smoking, Legacy wanted a work environment that matched their healthy mission. For starters, they wanted a LEED Gold building that provided their staff with a green work environment.

As part of this goal, they wanted outdoor gathering spaces. So OTJ designed a first floor garden entry and gathering area on Massachusetts Avenue along with a green roof that has since been the location of many of their breakfast meetings. They also wanted their reception space to connect with a first floor reception area which led to the exterior garden meeting area. The conference room has a relationship with the outdoor meeting area, but also serves as a gateway to the 100 seat THX theatre. This allows Legacy to host an event outside, bring guests in and organize them, introducing them to the mission of Legacy and the conference room/meeting areas, and then lead them into the theatre for a movie presentation.

Other programming included:

• OTJ designed a secure parking facility, since Legacy wished for control over the full parking area for their building.



• The first floor included an outdoor gathering area, reception, theatre, fitness area and showers, catering ability, and rear loading dock where all supplies are brought into the building.



• The second floor hosts their lunch room & staff lounge, Communications department, and IT group, help desk, and server room, so that those services are centrally located.



• The third floor is the location of the Government Affairs & Development departments as well as the board room, President's office, and executive staff, which is housed in the middle of the building so that all staff have access to the foundation's leadership.



• The fifth floor houses the Finance department, HR, and Program Operations.



• On the seventh floor is the Steven A. Schroeder National Institute of Tobacco Research & Policy Studies.

The small floor plates were ideal for Legacy, so that the departments could have distinct zones and specialized work spaces to meet their needs. The internal stairs were also upgraded with carpet and lighting to encourage staff to walk all seven floors either up to the roof garden for fresh air or on their way back to the first floor garden meeting areas.

MORE INFO: The American Legacy Foundation
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Meet the Team

Kevin Sneed, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP - PARTNER + DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE

OTJ believes quality control is key on all projects. As a past president of the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter, Kevin is a regional expert in the field of interior commercial architecture. He's been a member of our OTJ team as director of architecture for the past five years, focused on the firm's quality control. Recently, he led our team of architects on the construction documents and the LEED certification process for the award-winning American Legacy Foundation project highlighted above.

He trains our architects on the best industry standards for creating construction documents. We take great pride in the fact that our construction documents yield consistent pricing with general contractors. Kevin also trains our staff on complete coordination techniques with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural engineers, as well as all other potential vendors ranging from signage to audio visual. He ensures our architects are well versed in the code differences between the three primary jurisdictions in our region - Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

Kevin recently served as a 2009 juror of AIA's Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture and is also one of nine authors of Significant Interiors, an AIA published book featuring award-winning interior architecture in the US. To check it out, visit AIA's Online Bookstore and click on the Interiors book section.

MORE INFO: Kevin Sneed, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP
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On the Boards

Strayer University - OTJ Architects is currently assisting Strayer University in consolidating three locations into a new 104,000 sf headquarters in Virginia.
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March Madness

OTJ Architects celebrated the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament with over 50 attendees at OTJ's newly renovated office downtown.

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Did You Know?

Since 1994, OTJ Architects has grown from 6 to 68 employees! Learn more about our team here.
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Complimentary Needs Anaylsis

For those representing landlords and developers, OTJ can provide a Needs Analysis regarding BOMA Square Foot Calculations, a range of Capital Improvements from ADA bathrooms to lobbies, and/or LEED certification of buildings.

For those representing tenants, OTJ can provide a complimentary Analysis of Cost Effective Sustainable Initiatives. We will also provide Efficiency Studies for one of two reasons: 1) if your client wishes to add more staff to their existing space or 2) if they wish to consolidate into a portion of their existing space and sublease the balance.

If interested, contact Laura Knox, LEED AP, at 202-621-1303 or knox@otj.com.

MORE INFO: Efficient Office Space Utilization + Going Green with your Office Interior
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