Studio Visit: Core

Jason Fulford

As the nation’s capital and the seat of the federal government… Read More As the nation’s capital and the seat of the federal government—and all its attendant industry—Washington, D.C., weathers recessions better than some municipalities. “I don’t think it’s truly recession proof, no. Absolutely no question, it’s not,” says principal Guy Martin. “I do think we’re luckier than a lot of areas. When we get these dips, we don’t dip as far as other places.”

Jason Fulford

New developments in Washington have been spurred in part by forc… Read More New developments in Washington have been spurred in part by forces outside D.C., which is not necessarily a bad thing. “There’s a benefit to some degree of the outside world coming in [to Washington],” Martin says, noting in particular recent efforts by D.C. Public Library chief Ginnie Cooper, who brought a zeal for architecture from Brooklyn in 2006.

Jason Fulford

Core has no specific area of emphasis: Its recent commissions in… Read More Core has no specific area of emphasis: Its recent commissions include interiors for popular new D.C. hotspots such as Pearl Dive Oyster Palace and Againn as well as the ongoing renovation of the Mt. Pleasant Public Library in Northwest Washington. “It works because we have a bunch of very diverse, talented people, most of whom are multivalent,” Martin says. “Almost everybody here can and likes to jump in scale and type of project.”

Jason Fulford

Stewart, 54, and Martin, 63, share an office and always have. Ma… Read More Stewart, 54, and Martin, 63, share an office and always have. Many principals might find that unthinkable, but the two say that the situation facilitates a dialogue about projects.

Jason Fulford

“We don’t want to get so big that we have to be departments,… Read More “We don’t want to get so big that we have to be departments,” says Stewart. Core’s small size is key to its diverse portfolio. “We like that somebody can work on both a restaurant and an office building.”

Jason Fulford

Building in D.C. is different—and not just due to D.C.’s Hei… Read More Building in D.C. is different—and not just due to D.C.’s Height Act restrictions. “Over time, they build out the box with greater density. It used to be the height limit with an 8.5 [floor-area ratio]. Over time that FAR has crept to 10, 10.5, 11,” Martin says. “There’s no room to maneuver.”

Jason Fulford

Some of the firm’s larger projects take them out of the Distri… Read More Some of the firm’s larger projects take them out of the District proper. One unique challenge that a D.C. firm faces is balancing the requirements of three different municipalities in one relatively small area. “We just finished getting site-plan approval for a 485-unit mid-rise apartment complex unit in Arlandria that also has 50,000 square feet of retail,” Martin says, referring to an area between Arlington and Alexandria, Va.

Jason Fulford

One price for the relative immunity to systemic shocks is the re… Read More One price for the relative immunity to systemic shocks is the relative lack of access to serious booms. “We don’t go as high up, either. We don’t, by and large, have in Washington the scale of building in Chicago and New York” even in the best circumstances, he says.

Jason Fulford

Core’s offices, which overlook the Potomac River, are located … Read More Core’s offices, which overlook the Potomac River, are located a few blocks away from the firm’s first big project, a 17,000-square-foot marketplace for Dean & Deluca, which is still a major fixture of Georgetown’s retail corridor.

Jason Fulford

Core launched its practice in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle… Read More Core launched its practice in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood in 1991 but moved three years later to Georgetown, where the firm has been stationed ever since.

Jason Fulford

As much as developers from elsewhere may take credit for the rec… Read More As much as developers from elsewhere may take credit for the recent growth in Washington, it wouldn’t have happened were the city not undergoing an internal shift away from the traditional status quo. The city’s progressive trajectory is reflected in its new buildings and interiors—and also in its food, fashion, and culture, Stewart says.

Jason Fulford

Christopher Peli, one of the firm’s designers, puts it a diffe… Read More Christopher Peli, one of the firm’s designers, puts it a different way. “We’re more like a band than a family,” he says. “Everyone plays multiple instruments.”

Jason Fulford

Though Core lost some staff during the recent recession—primar… Read More Though Core lost some staff during the recent recession—primarily to attrition—the firm is now on the upswing, with 17 staffers, and plans to add two or three more this year.

Jason Fulford

“Even in the 20 years we’ve been practicing—we started and… Read More “Even in the 20 years we’ve been practicing—we started and won some awards early on,” Stewart says. “The jurors’ comments were, ‘This is very refreshing and exciting to see this kind of work happening in Washington, finally.’ ”