Overview
Located along one of Washington D.C.’s most iconic boulevards, 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue is a trophy office building within a dynamic, mixed-use development that marks the northern gateway to George Washington University. This dramatic, 12-story undulating building profile features a 3-story, suspended VetraFin-S façade designed, engineered and supplied by Sentech. Dynamic and open, the building is comprised of two wings- one on Pennsylvania and one on Eye Street, connected by a ten-story atrium with glass skylight and end wall. The unique building profile mimics the wave-like formation of a waving flag- an ode to the capital itself and the surrounding neighborhood.
The 3-story suspended structural glass façade utilizes exposed, custom ornamental#4 brushed AESS stainless steel fins. The decision to use a suspended façade system helped to minimize profile sizes to keep costs down while achieving an uncompromised aesthetic. Custom slide brackets were implemented in the design to accommodate differential movements between the three-story tall façade, adjacent curtainwall systems and the floor-loaded glass vestibule. The use of laser fuse welded stainless steel profiles, built-up stainless steel box beams and monolithic stainless steel plates (some approaching 30-feet in length) enabled Sentech to retain crisp corners on all profiles and enhance the slender look of the façade fins.
The building is designed to achieve a LEED gold rating. The development is a public-private partnership between Boston Properties and George Washington University.
Soaring, open, and bright, 2100 Penn amplifies the connection between the surrounding neighborhood, the GWU community and the building’s dynamic public spaces.
Credits
General Contractor: Balfour BeattyArchitect: Pelli Clarke & PartnersArchitect of Record: WDG ArchitectureGlazing Contractor: Innovo ConstructionOwner: Boston Properties/ George Washington University
