Owner
Washington Convention Center Authority
Architect
TVS, D&P, Mariani
Engineer
John J. Christie & Associates
GC
Clark Construction Group
Completion
2003
Program
2.1 million sqft
Building Type
Convention Center
Technology Type
Truss Systems, Stick, AESS Fabrication
Facade
Design/build services for 50,000 sqft of long-span high-transparency facade, including custom AESS truss systems with integral glass glazing
Glass
Standard 1 inch insulated
Description
A custom long-span facade program with exposed structure was developed for this D.C. project
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The new Washington Convention Center was the largest public works project in the District and remains the largest building in Washington, D.C., totaling 2.1 million square feet and covering 15 acres (8 city blocks). The Center includes approximately 700,000 square feet of exhibit halls, 500,000 square feet of ballrooms, and an additional 400,000 square feet of mixed use areas.
The Enclos design team developed a custom long-span structural facade system for this project — a kit-of-parts that was applied by the architect and resulted in six different wall conditions with vertical spans ranging from 10 to 50 feet. All conditions were solved using an identical simplified glazing system integral to the structural support. Transparency was maximized through the use of a three-dimensional tension truss structure. The largest wall of the project, the Mount Vernon facade, is curved and articulated, representing one of the more complex glass wall enclosures in the United States. The visual drama created by the large fenestrations at key entrance locations greatly enhances the human experience when entering the building, a major goal of the overall program. Enclos provides comprehensive design/assist and design/build services for projects utilizing advanced exterior wall and structural glass facade technology.
This project received many awards including a Design Excellence Award from the American Institute of Architects, 2006. |
