KPF was represented at the groundbreaking by, starting second from left, Principal Elie Gamburg, Associate Principal Devon Loweth, and Senior Associate Principal Amanda Prins.
Rendering courtesy of Skanska.
17xM, developed by Skanska, provides cutting-edge workspace and reinvents the traditional D.C. office building through a unique form and efficient planning.
Today, KPF joined Skanska in celebrating the groundbreaking of 17xM in a small ceremony on site. The innovative new office building fully utilizes its site through a dynamic form that increases the typical number of perimeter offices on each floor, maximizing views and avoiding dark spaces common in D.C. office blocks. The project also includes pockets of public spaces, pulling back from the street wall in key areas to create visual relief and mark a clear entry into the building. The 11-story building provides flexible office spaces for tenants and a private layby drop-off for tenants and guests.
17xM is targeting LEED Gold, made possible through horizontal cells and vertical sun-screens built into the building’s façade, as well as a green roof, high-efficiency MEP systems, and recycled and local construction materials. The project is the first SmartScore certified office building in North America, a program that identifies exceptional buildings that meet high standards of sustainability and are “fully future-proof.”
Last month, Skanska announced that the international law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP signed a 16-year lease, occupying 163,750 square feet of office space within 17xM. This adds to the firm’s 20 offices worldwide, improving their presence in the D.C. area as they provide a broad range of legal services and litigation at all levels.
Learn more about KPF and Skanska’s design for 17xM in the unveiling announcement here.