Construction was recently completed on The Retail Village at Sycamore & Oak, a 22,000-sf building that will serve as a business incubator for entrepreneurs, including emerging black businesses, in Washington, D.C. The facility, designed by Sir David Adjaye, the architect of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is expected to attract retail and food concepts that originated in the community.
The building, located in Congress Heights, which has a 38% poverty level—more than double the District’s average rate, will provide a venue for job creation in the economically disadvantaged neighborhood. Michelin star chef and humanitarian Jose Andres will mentor Retail Village restaurant owners. The project was partly conceptualized and will be fully managed by members of the Congress Heights community.
The structure was constructed with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified, sustainably harvested mass timber. The entire structure, built using screws instead of nails, can be taken apart and reused.
A plinth is used as a focal point for gathering and creates a viewing deck into the multiple programs held in the education centers, as well as for retail incubators, outdoor dining spaces, and a performance pavilion. The structure is open-air with a canopy that offers protection from the elements and cultivates a sense of intimacy or ‘community within community’ when visitors gather underneath.
An environmental canopy collects rainwater and generates electricity from photovoltaic panels. An all-electric building, Sycamore & Oak will demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of solar energy, battery storage, heat pumps, and induction cooking, according to a news release. Some of the furniture used locally sourced wood from recovered street trees.
The project, scheduled to open the public on June 14, has already won an award from the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment for demonstrating equity and inclusion in sustainable construction.
On the project team:
Owner and/or developer: STE15 LLC, a joint venture of the Emerson Collective and Redbrick LMD
Design architect: Sir David Adjaye, Adjaye Associates
Architect of record: Winstanley Associates
MEP engineer: CSCE
Structural engineer: Structurecraft
General contractor/construction manager: Banneker Communities
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Sep 12, 2017
Top 40 retail engineering firms
WSP, Henderson Engineers, and Core States Group top BD+C’s ranking of the nation’s largest retail sector engineering and EA firms, as reported in the 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Sep 11, 2017
Top 65 retail architecture firms
CallisonRTKL, Jacobs, and Gensler top BD+C’s ranking of the nation’s largest retail sector architecture and AE firms, as reported in the 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Retail Centers | Aug 24, 2017
More than a mall: A collection of experiences
Find out how Gensler transformed one of Silicon Valley’s largest shopping destinations into an immersive lifestyle destination.
Office Buildings | Aug 17, 2017
Toyota’s new North American HQ opens in Plano
Toyota invested $1 billion in the project, which was designed by Corgan.
Mixed-Use | Aug 10, 2017
Mixed-use development includes University of California-San Diego campus extension
The 562,000-sf development was designed by Carrier Johnson + CULTURE and is located five blocks from the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park.
Retail Centers | Aug 4, 2017
A fast-food restaurant created from recycled shipping containers
Each of the 20-foot-long shipping containers used in the proposal for the Siauliai, Lithuania restaurant are independent and can be easily reproduced.
Retail Centers | Jul 27, 2017
The “New Hybrid” experience: Beyond the mall
Consumers expect more from retailers and brands than ever before.
Retail Centers | Jul 24, 2017
Miami retail structure’s honeycomb façade fluctuates between opacity and transparency
The building will rise three stories in Miami’s Design District.
Retail Centers | Jul 20, 2017
L.A.’s Promenade at Howard Hughes Center receives a new name and a $30 million cash injection
Laurus Corporation and The Jerde Partnership will team up to rebrand the center as a family-friendly dining and entertainment destination.
Retail Centers | Jul 17, 2017
Subway updates restaurants, brand with fresh design and improved customer experience
FRCH Design Worldwide is leading the redesign that will start with 12 pilot locations across the country.
