Capitol Crossing

Lasa marble for the currently most modern building complex in the capital of the USA

In 2017 and 2018, the first buildings were constructed in the heart of the U.S. capital, Washington D.C. in a newly constructed street block consisting of a total of five multi-storey buildings with offices, numerous shops and restaurants on the ground floor. On a total area of around 204,400 m2, the building complexes, which are known as Capitol Crossing in their entirety, will be erected by spring 2020 on behalf of Property Group Partners and according to plans drawn up by Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates. Lasa Marmo supplied a total of 1,000 square metres of LASA BIANCO ORTLES^® and LASA BIANCO NUVOLATO^® for the wall cladding of the entrance areas of two completed buildings, "200 Massachusetts Avenue" and "250 Massachusetts Avenue North".

The architectural firm based in Hamden (Connecticut), pursued the ambitious goal of restoring the master plan for the U.S. capital, drawn up in 1791 by Washington's Pierre L'Enfant, in the planning of this major urban development project comprising three blocks of houses. For this purpose, Interstate 395 had to be covered and built over a length of approximately 300 metres and an area of around 2.75 hectares. The new office, retail and service district, most of which is located in Washington's central business district above the broad highway, is completely redeveloping the surrounding area with its superstructure. Within walking distance of the United States Capitol, the buildings, whose architecture is also impressive, are located between Capitol Hill, the historic residential district of the federal capital, Washington Central Station, Capitol Union Station, East End, the historic heart of Washington, Judiciary Square and the Capital One Arena. The planners, centred round Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo, have also taken into account generously proportioned new pedestrian areas and cycle paths leading through the blocks of houses. Sufficient space for large-scale retail stores, restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as premium offices and apartments, make the modern buildings a new centre for Washington's residential and commercial population, which will result in a lasting change in the environment through the restoration of the urban fabric.

The interior lobbies present a sophisticated palette of different noble materials. In the corridors of the Capitol Crossing buildings, the effect of Lasa marble is emphasised particularly impressively by the black-green granite laid on the floor. The exterior of 200/250 Massachusetts Avenue consists of two different façade types. The subtle contrast of the façades accentuates the geometry of the two buildings in a graceful way. On each floor, the large glass windows at a height of over 1 m become clear glass. The ceiling-high windows and column-free rooms allow a special view of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. Another important aspect of the planners, in the construction of the two completed buildings, was the achievement of the highest possible LEED certification for a particularly ecological design. The U.S. Green Building Council's classification in the United States defines various standards for environmentally friendly, resource-efficient and sustainable construction. With the achievement of the highest sustainability certification "LEED Platinum", the entire newly emerging street block in Washington becomes the first eco-quarter of the U.S. federal capital. The Lasa marble from the Stelvio National Park, which stands for a sustainable working method from extraction to processing, therefore fits well into this concept.

The project was carried out in collaboration with Lorton Stone, who was solely responsible for the installation.