OTJ Architects has completed the new offices of the Children’s Law Center(CLC) at 501 3rd Street NW. It is the second high-performance workplace the architects have designed for the renowned nonprofit children’s legal services advocacy organization. The 21,000-square-foot space is closer to DC Superior Court than the group’s previous office and accommodates CLC’s growth in staff and services over the past 10 years.
“Our in-depth understanding of CLC’s workplace needs enabled us to deliver an inviting, non-threatening environment for the kids and their families and caregivers,” points out OTJ’s Roger Sola-Sole, Partner & Studio Director. “We have designed super-efficient office space, as well as comfortable shared areas in which the lawyers and other professionals can perform their best on behalf of the young clientele.”
Aesthetically, the space is a study in sophistication and playfulness. The entry’s design includes pitched roofs with the appearance of gables on a welcoming home. A graphic of the city’s streetscape and skyline is printed on frosted film at eye levels easily seen by adults and children. In addition, OTJ’s designers used bold colors throughout the space, along with branded signage to create four distinct office quadrants that reference the NW, NE, SW, and SE neighborhoods of Washington.
Adds OTJ Project Designer Liza Raff, “It is a truly uplifting workplace that is uniquely suited to CLC and its network of dedicated lawyers, social workers, city leaders and staff as they help these children find paths to better education, health and stable families.”
Other elements in the design include a playroom and conference area featuring artwork by many of the young clients. A simple framing system allows for the works to be updated, as needed. Also lining some of the walls are baby pictures of the staff to further create bonds and provide sources of conversation. The lawyers’ offices have been structured for both privacy and efficiency and utilize glass walls and doors to infuse natural light into the spaces.
About OTJ Architects
OTJ Architects is a premier interior architecture and design firm that creates award-winning projects nationwide from its offices in Washington, D.C. and New York, N.Y. For nearly 30 years, OTJ has partnered with leaders in the commercial real estate, corporate, government, and non-profit sectors to help organizations meet their human, operational, and business objectives through the power of the built environment. Signature recent projects include workplaces for Accenture, Hyundai/Kia, Adobe, BMW, and United Way, as well as Innovation Centers for Booz Allen and Capital One. More information is available at http://www.otj.com.
About Children’s Law Center
Children’s Law Center fights so every District child can grow up with a loving family, good health and a quality education. Judges, pediatricians and families turn to us to be the voice for children who are abused or neglected, who aren’t in school, or have health problems that cannot be solved by medicine alone. With 100 staff and hundreds of pro bono lawyers, we reach one out of every nine children in DC’s poorest neighborhoods – more than 5,000 children and families each year. More information is available at www.childrenslawcenter.org. Contact: Katie Test Davis.
