The JBG Companies Taps World Renowned Deborah Berke Partners for Wardman Tower Condominiums

WASHINGTON - Sept. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- The JBG Companies is raising the bar on luxury living in the nation’s capital by teaming up with Deborah Berke Partners, a New York-based architectural firm that has garnered numerous design awards for their work on residential, commercial, hospitality and institutional projects. The restoration of the landmark Wardman Tower, currently underway, will pay tribute to the opulence of mid-century Paris while adding an open and contemporary feel to the spaces. The building was once home to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, LBJ, and Marlene Dietrich.  The first episode of Meet the Press was broadcast from the Wardman Tower and notorious spies darkened its hallways during World War II.

“The sites and the views are absolutely spectacular due to the ingenious layout and cruciform shape of the building,” says Deborah Berke, whose firm became involved with the project based partially on her groundbreaking work on the 432 Park Avenue Building in New York. Upon completion, it will be the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere.

The Wardman Tower rests on 16 acres of manicured gardens in Northwest Washington at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Woodley Road. The Georgian Revival building was originally conceived as an exclusive wing of private apartments adjacent to the Wardman Park Hotel, a complex of buildings that have since been refurbished.

The major renovation will convert the 150,000 square foot tower into 32, two to four bedroom, condominiums that will range in size from 2,200 to over 4,600 square feet. Construction is already underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2015. Amenities will include rooftop terraces providing 360 degrees of monument viewing, a fitness center, private balconies,  a resident library and lounge area, opening onto a private garden.  In addition, Abigail Michaels Concierge will provide highly personalized service to residents 24/7.

The eight-story, red brick, iconic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 ensuring that the facade beams and bones of the structure will be preserved during the extensive renovation.

Deborah Berke brings a local connection to the project as she once resided a few blocks north on Connecticut Avenue at the Kennedy Warren. She taught at the University of Maryland and serves as a Trustee of the National Building Museum.  Ms. Berke sees Wardman Tower as a component of “the string of charms that represent Washington’s legacy of fine, residential buildings.”

Although her firm is well-versed in modern design she plans to pay homage to the traditional design aesthetic of the building while incorporating what has become the look and feel of 21^st century Washington, with a nod to the city’s French designer, Pierre L’Enfant. “The gracious, large apartments will not be flamboyantly traditional nor will they be jarringly modern but rather a happy overflow of styles,” she says.

The building was originally designed by Mihran Mesrobian, a prominent, Turkish-born, Armenian architect and was once christened by The Washington Post as “the most fashionable apartment address in Washington.” Construction was completed in 1928 by the most beloved, talented and prolific real estate developer in DC, Harry Wardman.

Renowned for his quality of work, at the time of his death in 1938, it’s believed that one-tenth of the residents of Washington DC lived in a “Wardman.” Wardman pioneered the addition of front porches to rowhouses and also built the iconic Hay-Adams hotel, the St. Regis hotel, and the British Embassy.

The project is being co-developed by JBG and North America Sekisui House, LLC (NASH), based in Arlington, VA.  Sales are scheduled to begin in the fall.

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About The JBG Companies

Headquartered in Chevy Chase, Md., The JBG Companies is a private real estate development firm that develops, owns and manages office, residential, hotel and retail properties. The company has more than $10 billion in assets under management and development in the Washington, DC area. Since 1960, JBG has been active in the communities where it invests, striving to make a positive impact. More information can be found by visiting the company's website: JBG.com (http://www.jbg.com/), or by calling 240.333.3600

About NORTH AMERICA SEKISUI HOUSE, LLC (NASH)
NASH is the U.S. business operations unit and a full subsidiary of SEKISUI HOUSE, LTD., Japan’s largest homebuilder and a leading diversified developer since 1960.  NASH establishes joint ventures to build innovative and sustainability-conscious communities. The development joint venture for Wardman Tower is a NASH consolidated subsidiary. NASH is headquartered in Arlington, Va., and SEKISUI HOUSE is headquartered in Osaka, Japan, with affiliates and subsidiaries around the globe. www.nashcommunities.com.

About Deborah Berke Partners

Based in New York City, the firm has completed a number of prestigious projects in Europe, Asia, and the US.  Led by Deborah Berke (FAIA, LEED AP), a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and an adjunct professor at Yale University, the firm has produced a unique body of work ranging from institutional, commercial and residential projects.  The practice operates from a philosophy of “knowing simplicity,” and roots its approach in how its clients will inhabit the places they design. More information can be found by visiting the company’s website: DBerke.com or by calling 212.229.9211.