Emerging from the site of a former YMCA, 1701 Rhode Island is a seven-story, 104,000 SF freestanding addition to DC's Central Business District with a stunning copper facade, floor-to-ceiling glass, and an impressive, terraced landscaped entry plaza. The building's massing and architecture reflects the character of the historic buildings adjacent to the site. In order to transform the building into an office space, the city's zoning required preserving major portions of the building's structural elements. The team designed a six-story copper shingled frame along the building's facade. Each shingle was individually treated by hand to age the copper and pay homage to the historic St. Matthews Cathedral and its copper dome to the west.