A Notable Facade Restoration

In 1898, the Washington Evening Star (later known as the Washington Star), a major Washington, D.C., newspaper published from 1852 to 1981, constructed a building at 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue to house editorial, production, and managerial staff. The building was used by the newspaper until the late 1950s. Around this time, the space was converted into offices, and eventually expanded with additions in 1989.

The original 1898 building façade consisted of marble exterior walls with granite at the ground level. The original façade was adorned with numerous ornamental carvings, balconies, balustrades, and other architectural details. Two built-in gutters existed at the 9th-floor and 11th-floor levels. The gutter drains had been abandoned, causing problems due to ice and water build-up. The 1989 façade addition consisted of thick limestone cladding with granite at the ground level, similar to the original.

In 2005, a hands-on exterior assessment was performed to determine loose or deteriorated components of the façade, and it was determined that a full façade rehabilitation project was necessary.

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