Mayfair Mansions – Renovation

Description

Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planners considers it an honor to have designed the revitalization of such an important piece of Washington D.C.’s history.

Originally designed by notable architect Albert I. Cassell and built in 1946 during the era of Jim Crow laws and racial segregation, Mayfair Mansions Apartments was Washington’s first top-quality housing development for working- and middle-class African Americans.

The 17-building community surrounds an open green space with extensive landscaping, mature red maple and ginko trees and recreation facilities.

We took a strict preservationist view toward the project, performing extensive conditional surveys and site investigations to save as much of the original design as possible.

The first phase of the project, completed in 2009, renovated 409 units as rental apartments. Construction on the second phase is anticipated to begin in Spring 2011 and will provide 160 affordable home ownership condominium units.

Our designs included historically appropriate modernization of the unit interiors, masonry restoration and cleaning and extensive landscaping, as well as upgrades to the existing swimming pool, the addition of play areas, and a new LEED Certified community center.