Project:

To serve Gallaudet University as Project Manager for the renovation of the historic Denison House and the concurrent conversion of the building’s use from administrative offices to residential use.

Challenges:

Denison House is one of three cherished homes built in 1875 as the University’s Faculty Row and had served the Gallaudet community well as first faculty housing and then as administrative offices. The project involved the preservation, refinishing and, in some cases, relocation of historic interior elements, including the grand central staircase, fireplaces and 9 foot pocket doors.  New construction of fully ADA compliant community open kitchen/dining room and elevator along with all new utility connections and fire sprinklers had to be carefully integrated with the historic features.

Solutions:

J Street’s project and construction management team guided the project to a successful conclusion in four months, putting the 8,000 square foot brick building back into use as transitional residences for 12 senior honor students.  Those students now enjoy high ceilings throughout, state-of-the-art kitchen and dining facilities and a climate supported by fully modernized systems.  The University, which considers the Denison House renovation a prototype for their “live/learn” campus initiative, anticipates the renovation of two other houses on Faculty Row based on the great success of the Denison House project.