Beyer Blinder Belle Architects Complete Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 

Architecture & Design

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Beyer Blinder Belle Architects Complete Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 

A contemporary redesign for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s global headquarters fills the building with natural light and state-of-the-art amenities and technologies, reinvigorating the interiors for world-class research and thought leadership. 

Washington, DC – (March 20, 2023) – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, operating from a workplace redesigned by Beyer Blinder Belle, is a global think tank dedicated to advancing world peace. Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1910, it has been headquartered on Washington DC’s historic Embassy Row since 1989 and in addition to advancing peace and international cooperation through analysis and research, hosts frequent high-profile public events, many streamed worldwide to advance the mission.

BBB led comprehensive programming, visioning, and full architectural and interior renovations for the 33,000 SF project. The new interior intervention creates an airy and bright contemporary presence for the nonpartisan international affairs think tank. The Massachusetts Avenue entrance was transformed with a modern, double-height lobby and light-filled communicating stairs—promoting informal interaction among visitors and staff. A large-scale porcelain panel wall and streamlined reception desk create a striking identity upon entry that is complemented by sculptural custom seating and integrated lighting to enhance architectural details.

The new, 200-person Pritzker Traubert Conference Center and supporting spaces anchor the ground floor, serving public events with state-of-the-art technology and conferencing capabilities. Additional meeting and huddle rooms, pre-function spaces, and a state-of-the-art media room offer flexibility in programming in contemporary spaces. New staff offices, meeting rooms, common work areas and the executive suite were reimagined to be light-filled spaces focused on connectivity and collaboration. The Carnegie Commons collaborative space overlooks the lobby and is enhanced with amenities, and the executive suite embraces its connectivity to an outdoor terrace overlooking Massachusetts Avenue and the Washington DC skyline.

“Collaborating with the Carnegie Endowment on their new workplace was a tremendous responsibility for our team,” said Hany Hassan, Partner of Beyer Blinder Belle. “The opportunity to design this project in support of such a vital mission as world peace makes our work that much more meaningful. Now, the Carnegie Endowment has a space worthy of their global profile and impact, with a bright, calming material palette that contributes to their welcoming and reflective atmosphere.”

BBB developed a sophisticated material palette and FF&E approach to communicate a light and bright aesthetic for the forward-thinking nonprofit organization, contributing to the welcoming and reflective atmosphere. Contemporary finishes reinvigorate the spaces and are complemented by integrated lighting and technology, AV, and beautiful yet functional furnishings. Together with our team of collaborators, we celebrate the opening of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC’s historic Embassy Row. The BBB collaboration is informed by the talents of:

  • MGAC (Owner’s Representative)

  • HITT Contracting (Construction Manager)

  • Thornton Tomasetti (Structural Engineer/Acoustic Consultant)

  • James Posey Associates (MEP Engineer/Fire Protection Consultant)

  • Stroik Lighting Design (Lighting Designer)

  • CTSI (AV/IT Consultant)

  • MOI (FF&E Specification/Procurement)

  • Jensen Hughes (Code/Life Safety Consultant)

A selection of photos can be viewed here.

 

About Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners 

Founded in 1968, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners is an award-winning architecture, planning, and interiors practice of 165 professionals in Washington, DC, New York City, and Boston. The firm’s multi-faceted portfolio encompasses preservation, interiors, urban design, and new construction projects that span a wide spectrum of building typologies and sectors, including cultural, civic, educational, residential, and commercial.

For more than five decades, BBB’s work has focused on the revitalization of nationally celebrated buildings and urban sites, including the US Capitol, Washington Monument, and Kennedy Center; adaptive reuse for cultural institutions such as Rubell Museum DC and Planet Word; and contemporary interiors for the Smithsonian, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and mixed-use and residential projects throughout the National Capital Region.

BBB approaches all projects with a deep understanding of their character-defining features and contexts, and brings creativity, place-making, and authenticity to the design of buildings, interiors, and dynamic public spaces that meet the needs of current and future generations.