Clark Selected to Construct Office Building Near the White House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Clark Construction Group, LLC recently was awarded a contract to build a new, 11-story office building near the White House. Lafayette Tower, developed by Louis Dreyfus Property Group of Washington, D.C., will feature a two-story lobby, glass facade and views of the White House, Lafayette Park and national monuments from the rooftop terrace.

The project is located on the site of the former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) headquarters at the corner of 17th and H Streets, N.W. Clark is serving as the general contractor on this project. Currently, the project team is demolishing the former FDIC building and salvaging the foundation walls.

Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates, LLC, of Hamden, Conn., is the architect for this 328,000-gross-square-foot building, which will feature high-quality finishes and amenities. In order to offer unobstructed views of the city, the building will not have perimeter columns on its north, west, and south sides. The facade for the west and south sides of the building will feature a custom glass curtain wall with recesses and an ultra-clear glass. Pipe railings, with stainless steel finishes, will accent the recesses on the facade.

The building, designed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold rating, will incorporate environmentally-friendly materials and energy-saving components, such as a green roof, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and an energy-efficient HVAC system. The project also is recycling all concrete and steel during the demolition phase.

Louis Dreyfus Property Group has developed, acquired and managed first-class office buildings in North America and Europe for over 35 years. Active in the Washington real estate market since the early 1970s, it has developed and owns Station Place and 1101 New York Avenue. The company also developed and owned the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown and 2001 K Street.

Other team members for this project include Tadjer-Cohen-Edelson Associates, Inc., of Silver Spring, Md., structural engineer, and Tolk, Inc., of Fairfax, Va., MEP engineer.

Lafayette Tower is scheduled to be completed in December of 2008.