Georgetown University Alumni House

The Georgetown University Alumni Association has been located at the corner of 36th and O Streets for the past 50 years, one block from the main gate to the University and from Healy Hall. The existing facility consisted of five two-story townhouses, awkwardly connected and surrounding a large garden area.

The project consisted of an entire renovation of the facility. As part of an agreement with the DC Historic Preservation Office, 75% of the existing masonry baring walls, interior and exterior, have been retained. The interiors of the five townhouses were reconfigured to provide spaces for meeting, exhibition and library functions, and for socializing for visiting alumni, as well as to accommodate a limited amount of alumni association offices. These rooms are arranged around a courtyard to maximize views into the garden and into the street. The garden was designed to better integrate with the interior spaces for use by the alumni and the association staff. In addition to restoring historic elements in the houses, the project brings the building into compliance with the building code and the ADA and includes new finishes, paneling and wood trim, stairways and elevator as well as lighting and complete mechanical systems.

In order to accommodate the program of the Alumni Association a full abasement was excavated necessitating the underlining of the existing buildings.