The Hyde-Addison Elementary School project represents a campus modernization to current District of Columbia Public Schools standards in a historic urban neighborhood. It involved the renovation of a 70,000 sq. ft. existing historic facility and an addition of almost 30,000 sq. ft. of new space to the complex. The addition blends perfectly into historic Georgetown while standing out as a distinguished contemporary building on its own. It contains a gymnasium with a basketball court, stage, and bleacher seating, as well as a music room, a health suite, a library, a cafeteria, offices, and four new classrooms. The design aimed to reuse the two existing buildings and concentrate the entrance into one place. It is laid out to maintain connection between the streets bordering the site. Through the modernization, the existing characteristics of the historic school buildings were retained, and much of the building’s interior was renovated and restored.

The resulting project unifies the Hyde and Addison buildings, creating a more cohesive Hyde-Addison campus while maintaining the unique architectural characteristics of each individual school building. One of the project’s goals was to maximize outdoor play space while minimizing the building footprint. The design provides an elegant solution to the difficult problem of accommodating both modern DC Public School programming needs and play spaces for students within a constrained historic setting. The application of modern terracotta in a vertical orientation provides an appropriate transition between the new addition and the historic buildings. The use of similar coloring to the two existing brick buildings for the contemporary addition but differing materials allows the buildings to be tied together while differentiating the contemporary and historic.

The architects utilized a modern terracotta rainscreen and sunscreen baguette systems, installed vertically, challenging the common horizontal use of terracotta screens. Energy consumption has been reduced using ceramic frit glass. The design integrated the bioretention area with the landscape and maximized the amount of green roof on the building. A holistic approach was taken to the architectural design, site design, landscaping, and stormwater features. The landscaping is inviting and provokes comfort and happiness. The two existing structures were refurbished with modern water fixtures, lowering water usage. Lighting was another feature that was enhanced. The design allows for natural light to come in without glare while filtering it to reduce solar heat gain. Natural light continues to below-grade spaces via skylights and glass floor panels. The project met LEED Gold for Schools requirements.

The Hyde-Addison Elementary School Modernization project brought this 19th-century historic campus back to life, created community value, and served as a model for transforming antiquated school buildings in the District into cutting-edge, sustainable educational facilities that foster 21st-century learning.