Overview:
This project, situated in the historic Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC, is a showcase missing middle housing typologies. It offers a diverse range of housing options, totaling twenty-one units, in a single urban block. Residents can easily walk to neighborhood amenities, including restaurants, retail shops, the library, and public transportation. The centerpiece is the transformation of an 1880s surplus school building into twelve condominium units. Previously serving as offices for the Africare organization, the schoolhouse found new life. The design process successfully secured Historic Landmark status for the building. Adjacent to the school building, four newly-constructed rowhouses stand in place of a former parking lot. Their front-back orientation divides them into eight dwelling units, seamlessly blending with the surrounding environment. A stand-alone duplex bookends the opposite end of the school building, marking the corner of New Jersey Avenue and R Street.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the challenges and opportunities in the adaptive reuse of a historic schoolhouse.
- Evaluate different typologies of missing middle housing.
- Develop a toolkit of housing types to bring gentle density to an urban historic neighborhood.
- Apply contextual analysis strategies for successful design solutions.
Presented by:
Charles Warren, AIA, LEED AP
Principal and co-Founder, Teass \ Warren Architects
Charles Warren, AIA, LEED AP, is the co-founder and Principal of Design at Teass \ Warren Architects, bringing over 20 years of exceptional expertise to the practice. With a background in master planning, mixed-use development, multi-family housing, and single-family custom homes, Charles provides innovative and sustainable design solutions for projects of all scales. He is particularly dedicated to creating affordable, high-quality housing in the Washington, DC region. Charles holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and is licensed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.