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1001 G Street Northwest 250W
Washington, DC, 20001
United States

(202) 333-4480

With a professional working relationship spanning three decades, Gary F Martinez FAIA and Thomas E Johnson FAIA founded Martinez+Johnson Architecture in 1994 to bring their design sensitivities to institutional and cultural projects in urban locations. The 25-architect firm has since established an expertise in three main architectural areas – the restoration and adaptive reuse of historic structures, institutional buildings in urban areas and community settings, and the design and planning of performing arts venues.

Known for a thoughtful design approach to public facilities, M+J develops an intimate understanding of the needs of users, patrons, and operators destined to inhabit the projects of the firm. M+J looks to the future in their design aesthetic even when the context may be firmly rooted in the past and executes creative solutions to facilities both new and historic, where flexibility, ease of operation, and high but versatile performance characteristics are requisite. Venues express aspirational values and goals of the communities within which they are located, and at the same time conform to issues of economic value at the highest levels of environmental sustainability.

Ford's Center for Education and Leadership

Photos by Dan Poyourow

 
 

Ford's theatre society center for education and leadership

Washington, dc

This Center is the creative adaptation of a ten-story office structure located on historic 10th Street NW. This project combines a world-class museum on the presidency of Abraham Lincoln with a state-of-the-art classroom center for academic research and study of the lasting effect he has had on world leaders today. It is the third building in a developing campus of structures which include Ford’s Theatre, an additional exhibition area on the assassination, and the Petersen House where Lincoln died.

 

Opportunity

The challenge and opportunity of the project was to knit the various educational uses of the building together in a manner which respects the original structure and yet still engages a contemporary audience in a meaningful and transparent manner. The creation of a four-story atrium lobby allowed visual communication between all of the significant levels of the building and is highlighted with a towering book stack which provides a sculptural representation of all the scholastic writings produced on Lincoln and his presidency.

 

Creation

In order to meet the challenging schedule of the project, a phased construction approach was utilized. The first phase encompassed exterior repairs to the all-concrete structure and was executed while the building was still occupied. Early permit packages for this work were produced and certified third party permit reviewers were engaged to expedite the permit process. The second phase of interior structural modifications and improvement was initiated over the summer.

The building opened in late 2010 with accolades all around. The first floor retail was thoughtfully laid out and serves the patrons well. The educational museum incorporated world class technology with engaging displays of artifacts and information, and the upper floors are facilitating the professional and educational accomplishments of the Fords Theatre Society.

Owner: fords theatre society

Completion: 2012

Size: 30,000SF

Cost: $25M

AWARDS: 2012 NAIOP’s Award of Excellence – Best Renovation/Adaptive Re-Use

2012 Engineering News Record – Best Renovation/Restoration Project Award of Merit

2012 Washington Building Congress – Craftsmanship award winner (electrical)

 
 
“THIS IS REDEFINING WHO WE ARE...

THIS MUSEUM AND LEARNING SPACE BRINGS THE IDEAS AND VALUES OF LINCOLN FROM THE PAST INTO THE PRESENT.

THESE VISITORS HOPE TO CONNECT WITH THE LEGENDARY MAN THAT WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

- Paul Tetreault, Director of Ford’s Theatre Society”
 
 
 

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