Designing for an Inclusive Community

Working in collaboration with Georgetown University, the building architect RAMSA, and student housing developer American Campus Communities, Elkus Manfredi Architects designed the interior spaces of the new Georgetown University Student Residences at 55 H Street NW.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
Georgetown University’s new, innovative, all-electric, LEED-Platinum residence
hall—known as 55 H Street—is part of the University’s growing Capitol Campus in
downtown Washington, DC.

The shared goal was to foster community among the residents and activate the building with elements that celebrate Georgetown University’s heritage, engage students with the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and highlight the University’s commitment to education and sustainability. Known as 55 H Street, the ground floor provides a collection of community spaces to encourage casual gatherings and chance encounters, including study rooms, a library, and a game lounge. Each of the residential floors features a common lounge with a full kitchen and dining spaces. The interiors of 55 H Street offer a contemporary urban living experience for students. Steeped in history, filled with activity, and set in the popular Capitol Hill neighborhood, the building is designed to create a ripple effect that will serve as a catalyst, establishing the University’s new Capitol Campus and setting the stage for a “new day for Georgetown.”

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
Located in the heart of the common area, the parlor is a large flexible area
comprised of movable modular seating.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
Photo Caption Each of the residential floors features a common lounge.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
Shared areas such as this game lounge are versatile, supporting a wide range of
activities from group study sessions to social gatherings.

Design Solutions

Modern steel and glass screens—recalling the iconic stained glass church windows of the original Georgetown campus—break up the large floor plate into smaller, more intimate spaces. Located in the heart of the common area, the parlor is a large flexible area comprised of modular movable seating and an electric water vapor fireplace that creates a contemporary and welcoming hearth. Taking advantage of the large windows, the design allows activity on this level to be visible from the street, maintaining connections to the surrounding neighborhood inside as well as outside. The building wraps around a central courtyard that features a variety of outdoor seating options, grill stations, tables, ping-pong, and a dog run.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
Among the amenity spaces most popular with students are the enclosed study
rooms of different sizes located along the perimeter of the parlor.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
The ground floor provides a collection of community spaces to encourage casual
gatherings and chance encounters, including study rooms, a library, and a game
lounge. Pictured above is the library with an electric water vapor fireplace that is
safe, energy-efficient, and inviting.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
Providing an escape from the bustle of the city, the amenity penthouse on Level 12
offers captivating views of the Capitol and a visual connection back to the spires of
the original Georgetown University campus.

While blue and gray—the University’s official colors—are used primarily throughout the interior, the use of accent colors and changing themes add diversity to each floor and aid in wayfinding, with graphics that recall a different historical milestone to engage the students with Georgetown and D.C. history. The use of art and artifacts in the storytelling—such as wall coverings that feature texts from the archives—forges a deeper connection with the Georgetown legacy.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
55 H Street provides apartment-style housing to juniors, seniors, and graduate
students who are frequently on the Capitol Campus. The 476-bed residence hall‘s
north-facing elevation encloses two courtyards.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
To realize an inclusive design, it was crucial that the design foster a sense of
belonging and community. Ping pong and other activities on the terrace enliven
both outside and inside through floor-to-ceiling windows, contributing to an inviting
level of energy.

Sustainability Features

Sustainability was central to the design of 55 H Street, which achieved LEED Platinum certification. The building features a green wall on the ground floor that greets residents as they enter and environmental stats displayed on monitors in the lobby that highlight and educate about the water- and energy-saving features on each floor, encouraging students to limit their consumption.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
Sustainability was central to the design of 55 H Street, which achieved LEED
Platinum certification. The building features a green wall on the ground floor that
greets residents as they enter.

Inclusive Design

The design team embraced a comprehensive, inclusive approach that mirrors the rich diversity and forward-thinking ethos of the student body and wider University. This involved more than simply providing adequate accommodations. It required a thoughtful approach to create spaces that respect and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, needs, and aspirations of the student body. To accomplish this, it was crucial that the design foster a sense of belonging and community, while also enabling individuals to have private spaces for focus and rest. Shared areas need to be versatile, supporting a wide range of activities, from group study sessions to social gatherings. This commitment is a reflection of Elkus Manfredi’s belief that a living-learning environment should not only accommodate, it should celebrate every student's unique journey and actively support academic success, personal growth, and community engagement.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
The amenity penthouse offers a loft-like open space with banquette seating that
invites residents to be comfortably “alone together” in a space that gives them
agency to connect with others at their own pace.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
The penthouse level includes a fitness center overlooking the city and Capitol
Campus.

Contextual architecture

55 H Street is an addition to Georgetown’s Capitol Campus, home to the University Law Center and the School of Continuing Studies. (Located nearby is the RAMSA-designed McCourt School of Public Policy, which will transform a vacant lot into a world-class center for public policy once completed.) The 476-bed residence hall provides apartment-style housing to juniors, seniors, and graduate students that frequent the Capitol Campus.

© Peter Aaron / OTTO
55H Street includes a central courtyard that features a variety of outdoor seating
options, grill stations, tables, ping-pong, and a dog run.

About Elkus Manfredi Architects

Elkus Manfredi Architects is a full-service design firm providing architecture, master planning, urban design, interior architecture, historic preservation, space planning, programming, and experiential graphic design. They diverse portfolio of work includes planning and design for environments of work, living, learning, play, and innovation.