1875 K Street

Washington, DC

The lobby of 1825 K Street was originally designed by a “hospitality specialist” architect and its hotel look was inappropriate to the more corporate environment that Shorenstein Realty wanted – only they didn’t want to embark on a disruptive makeover.

By selectively eliminating and modifying certain key elements, the lobby was transformed just as successfully as if a more extensive and invasive renovation had been undertaken. The large backlit stained glass panels were replaced with simple rich surfaces of venetian plaster. All existing lighting was replaced and excessive molding was removed from ceiling coves.

A backlit, 8′ x 10′ carved glass feature wall was added behind the new reception desk, damaged wood panels were repairs, and Venetian plaster was applied to create additional accent walls. A series of sleekly minimalist air supply grills were introduced to serve a reconfigured HVAC system.

Photography by Mary Parker