The $9-million renovation of the Addison Elementary School complex in the historic Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., unearthed the historic character of the original 124-year-old school while transforming it into a contemporary facility.

Addison Elementary School, Washington, D.C.
Photo Courtesy Kenneth M. Wyner Photography

Joint-venture partners Columbia Enterprises of Washington and Forrester Construction Co. of Rockville, Md., began the project in April 2008 and completed it in January. Scope of work included the addition of seven new classrooms, a multipurpose room, computer rooms, a health suite and other amenities.

Exterior masonry was restored to match the existing color mortar. Failing brick was replaced with matching brick, and existing brick was restored and cleaned for the majority of the building.

Key Players

Owner: DC Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization, Washington, D.C.
General Contractor: Forrester Construction Co., Rockville, Md.
Architect: Lance Bailey & Associates, Silver Spring, Md.
Structural Engineer: MGV Consulting Structural Engineers, Rockville, Md.
Civil Engineer: Joe Jackson Associates, Washington
Mechanical/Electrical Engineer: Mechanical/Electrical Charles Ford & Associates, Washington
Mechanical & Plumbing: Engineering Contractors, Washington
Electrical Systems: Worch Electric, Kensington, Md.

Highly durable new wood windows match the original window openings, and new aluminum extrusions were made to custom match the existing wood window profiles of the historic building and its neighborhood. A z-panel metal roofing material gives the appearance of tin roofing with no leaks or heat penetration.