"Burnham Place is an exciting and important project. We interviewed candidates around the world to find a world-class architect with a demonstrated sensitivity to the local context of this site," says Matthew J. Klein, President of Akridge. "Shalom's skills and capabilities aligned perfectly. We are eager to move forward with the design phase of this project."
Shalom Baranes, Principal of Shalom Baranes Associates (Washington, D.C.) has both the experience and the vision to execute Burnham Place's ambitious goals. For two and a half decades, Baranes has received recognition for masterfully integrating contemporary buildings into a more historic urban fabric. He has received more than 100 design awards and is one of the youngest architects to be inducted into the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.
Akridge's relationship with Baranes dates back to the 1980s development of The Homer Building at 601 13th St., NW, where Akridge's offices are located. The project won awards for both architecture and historic preservation. The Homer Building is often cited as one of the finest trophy buildings in Washington.
Shalom Baranes Associates has operated in D.C. since 1981. Like Akridge, the architecture firm has played an integral role in shaping the development of the National Capital Region. Its list of newly-designed and redeveloped buildings includes some of the most prominent in the region and spans many use types. This list includes the Warner Theater, 800 F Street (home to the International Spy Museum), American Red Cross National Headquarters, and the multi-use Ritz Carlton projects in Georgetown and the West End neighborhoods of Washington.
The firm is also currently working on the redevelopment of Waterside Mall, the Southeast Federal Center, the Old Convention Center site in Washington, and the expansion and redevelopment of GSA's National Headquarters.
Shalom Baranes is well-known for his ability to design and gain approval for complex and challenging projects, which are sensitive to their context. As a result, his firm has strong ties to, and is highly respected by community members and those who review and approve building design. Baranes has often advised and consulted with these review agencies on policy and project review decisions.
Akridge and Baranes' plans for Burnham Place are inspired and complex. The two- to three-million square-foot development, adjacent to the north side of Union Station, is to be built atop a 15-acre, concrete platform above a fully-operational rail yard. The multi-faceted public-private development concept for this live-work community could include a destination hotel and vibrant commercial center, including first-class office, retail, and residential spaces. Central to this concept are planned improvements for enhanced efficiency and connectivity among the many forms of mass transit that converge at Union Station.
Burnham Place's preliminary plans, including transit-oriented and green building elements, were recognized by D.C.'s Smart Growth Alliance and the Maryland/D.C. chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties as a model for Smart Growth.
About Akridge
Akridge is a Washington, D.C.-based comprehensive real estate services firm that provides acquisition, development, construction management, asset and property management, leasing, and consulting services. For seven of the last eight years, Akridge has been ranked the number one real estate firm in the country (among firms of similar size) for Client satisfaction by CEL & Associates and BOMA. Akridge is also recognized as a "Great Place to Work" by Washingtonian magazine and the Washington Business Journal. Since 1974, the company's projects have encompassed over 10 million square feet of space in the greater Washington region. For more information, please visit www.akridge.com.
About Shalom Baranes Associates
Shalom Baranes Associates, PC is a Washington, D.C.-based architectural firm with an acclaimed reputation for its expertise in governmental, commercial, residential, and institutional design. With over 100 architects located in its Washington office, the firm provides full architectural services for an international clientele, including both private and public sector groups. During the past two decades, Shalom Baranes Associates has designed projects whose value exceeds three billion dollars and 20 million square feet. For more information, please visit www.sbaranes.com.
