What makes a workplace great? Great colleagues, fair compensation, and a sense of purpose all rank high on the list of popular answers, of course. But what makes the actual workplace—and we’re speaking literally here—great?
It’s a question that the staff in HGA’s Washington, D.C., office recently pondered when a decision was made to relocate from Alexandria, Va., to the heart of the capital. But the answer was easy to articulate: a great workplace isn’t just beautifully and efficiently designed, it also makes the most of its location. Firm leaders wanted a place with ready access to public transit, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, outdoor recreation, and more—and that meant moving into the center of downtown D.C.
A great workplace, at least in urban areas, is walkable. And HGA’s new Washington, D.C., office, located in the historic Woodies building, site of the former Woodward & Lothrop department store, is just a few footfalls away from some of the best art, restaurants, and entertainment options in the nation. Here’s what a few staff had to say about the nearby amenities:
If I want to take a midday break, the Kogod Courtyard is only steps away from the office. It’s a Norman Foster-designed interior space that sits at the center of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery. It’s a glass-enclosed courtyard that knits together two free historic art museums—both grand and intimately scaled all at once.
When it’s not hot and humid (which is rare in D.C.), you can’t beat the large, publicly accessible rooftop at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Originally designed by Mies van der Rohe, it’s D.C.’s main public library and was recently modernized by Mecanoo.
Peter Cook
Design Principal
I appreciate that Capital One Arena is so close. The Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament was held there in March, and it was amazing to be able to walk just one block from the office and straight into the arena. Our hockey team, the Washington Capitals, play there too. I’m a big fan, so it’s great to have such quick access!
Even things that seem far away aren’t that far, because the Gallery Place Metro station is right next to HGA’s office. It’s super-easy to jump on the green line to Audi Field to catch a D.C. United soccer match or Nationals Park to see Nationals baseball game.
Jennifer Bottomley
Business Development
I’m thankful I work so close to the Kennedy Center. I’ll often take the train there after work, to experience live music. I’m a musician myself, so it feels like a gift to be able to hear world-class musicians so frequently.
Other days, I’ll leave work and go for a run on the National Mall. Physical activity has always helped me manage stress, and being less than a mile away from the mall makes it easy to exercise before heading home. I have been running the mall for over six years and I never get tired of that four-mile loop.
Eric Matzke
Structural Project Engineer
Here’s a fun fact: Our new office location used to be a Forever 21 store. In fact, I worked at that store here in this same space more than a decade ago while I was a student enrolled at Howard University. The transformation is incredible! It’s just a beautiful office.
I also appreciate all the great food and drink options, such as Devon and Blakely’s for lunch, or Astro’s Beer Hall for happy hour. Plus, if I need a few things, I can just dash to H&M and Sephora, which are basically on the same block.”
Ciara Neeley
Marketing Manager
Read more about HGA’s research into downtown revitalization and HGA’s new office location in downtown Washington, D.C.