The redevelopment of Whitman-Walker Health, a historic LBGT Health Center founded in 1978, spans a full city block of Washington, DC’s 14th Street, which in recent years has emerged into a major retail corridor. In collaboration with Selldorf Architects, Future Green’s design integrates two historic buildings on-site and draws on the institutions continued presence and criticality in the neighborhood to create a dynamic public amenity in the streetscape, as well as a series of private amenity decks for employees of Whitman Walker. The design acknowledges and commemorates the organization’s values of care, and inclusion, and is intended to promote a serene work environment for their employees, as well as create a healthy dialogue between the institution, the LGBTQIA community, surrounding neighborhood businesses, and the larger public. The design most prominently includes a wood-deck plaza with an integrated bench at the sidewalk to create a distinctive zone that functions as an outdoor room and can accommodate public art, commemorative signage, and a vast array of community programs. The design then moves into the building where one can find a large communal roof terrace for employees that can accommodate organizational events and meetings; the space is planted with berms of wildflowers and grasses to offer beauty some sound protection from the busy retail corridor below. And lastly the design features an expansive wildflower meadow roof with integrated private terraces. The swaying meadow will reduce the surface temperature of the building to ensure longevity and offers a peaceful environment for employees to relax.
