GrizForm Design Architects recently designed an office space for Lincoln Property Company. Located in Northwest D.C.'s West End neighborhood, 2300 N Street is a recently renovated, eight-story office building with a ground-floor retail space. Using the same forward-thinking process the firm applies to its hospitality projects, GrizForm Design Architects conceptualized a rooftop terrace, tenant lounge, and conference center that are bright, modern, approachable, and designed to be as flexible and dynamic as today's professional.
Located on the 2nd floor, the tenant lounge and conference center are accessible via a catwalk bridge overlooking the building's two-story lobby. Spacious double doors and a full-height glass wall provide a welcoming, unobstructed view of the lounge. Inside this inviting space, hungry tenants can purchase savory meals and snacks from the catered café counter. The stainless-steel deli case is flanked by a bar-height dining counter covered in boldly-striped cork and felt panels. A wall of Prussian blue clay tiles, rich walnut shelving, and custom mint green lighting fixtures complete the area. The modern design provides multiple options for dining and socialization. Tenants can choose to sit at the café counter barstools, high-top tables, or, at a custom-designed banquette that spans the length of a curved wall with views overlooking the building's entry plaza.
For tenants looking for a place to relax and recharge, GrizForm Design Architects created three unique lounge zones designed to accommodate a variety of functions. Bright orange and grey modular soft seating offers a more casual lounge area for tenants who want to plug in and tune out. A central lounge, filled with groupings of more traditional soft seating and tables, is perfect for intimate groups or client meetings. Custom niche booths inset into a walnut paneled wall are featured for those wanting a more private area to work in or relax. Bright teal gooseneck lighting and oversized pillows round out the comfortable lounge retreat designed to create a space to pause from the busy work day.
Adjacent to the lounge, 360-degree pivoting doors open into a large, multi-functional conference room. Different elements allow the room to be flexible: a retractable partition wall gives tenants the option to create two smaller meeting spaces, and flip-top nesting tables and stackable seating can easily be reconfigured to fit that day's function. Throughout the lounge and conference room, GrizForm Design Architects implemented flooring and ceiling elements to guide building-goers and create distinct zones in an otherwise open floor plan. For instance, white porcelain tile mimics the Carrara marble flooring found in the building's lobby and corridors and inset carpet in hues of grey, teal, and orange designate the lounge and conference center spaces. Light oak and rich walnut wood, along with pops of mint green, round out the palette. Low ceilings and minimal daylight created lighting and acoustical challenges in the conference area, but perforated wood panels and LED-lit ceiling detailing were used to achieve an environment that feels big and bright.
On the rooftop terrace, GrizForm Design Architects created a sphere that functions with the same flexibility as the lounge and conference room. Dining tables offer an alternate spot for tenants to take a break during the work day, while bar-height communal tables function as a space for collaborative work or post-work events. Small groupings of lounge seating line the north side of the roof, where tenants can take in impressive views of the Washington National Cathedral and Rock Creek Parkway. Along the south side, a custom designed cabana shades a large, modular seating lounge. Pendant lighting and ample power outlets allow tenants to utilize the space throughout the day and into the evening. Teak wood and a neutral palette accented by pops of orange and green are crisp and simple against the backdrop of Northwest D.C.
Photography: Amber Frederiksen