Allison Friedel recent work
My current studio project is focused on the controversial FBI headquarters in downtown Washington. My classmates and I were given the freedom to decide whether or not to tear down this historic brutalist building, We were also given the freedom to assign new program elements to the site, assuming the FBI will be moving to a different headquarters outside of the district.
I have decided to keep as much of the building as possible, while attempting to activate this site on Pennsylvania Avenue. Brutalism is a significant cultural element in DC’s architecture, and so many brutalist buildings are being torn down. Brutalism is not yet old enough to be historically preserved, and not modern enough to be appreciated by the public. The FBI building itself has successful aspects to it, such as openness to surrounding streets, and a well-designed courtyard.
Initial Collages // analyzing the existing structure 01) The currently unused “terrace” level that wraps around the FBI building. It is slightly higher than street level on E Street, but is very open to the street and has the potential to be a conducive space.
02) Editing the building down to “the bones”.
03) Experimenting with puncturing a bay of the waffle slab structure to allow in light.
04) Adding in program: office space above, market to the left, space to gather/ eat on the existing floor plate.
Initial Collages // understanding site scale by juxtaposing other buildings onto the site
The Library of Congress
Campo dei Fiori, Rome
The Flatiron Building, New York
The Basilica at Catholic University
DC fabric: M Street NW
DC fabric: Massachusetts Ave
The Colosseum
City Center DC
Program Decisions
Covent Garden, London
After seeing how Campo dei Fiori fit into the site, I made the decision to add a marketplace to the building. I did a few more collage studies inserting other well known marketplaces. The goal of this is to create a sequence of spaces leading from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue. Visitors can walk through the market, buy something to eat and either continue on to the Mall or enjoy their meal in the preserved courtyard.
La Boqueria, Barcelona
Designing the Market’s Covering // sketches and rhino modeling
Designing the Market’s Covering // physical models at 3 different scales
Left - sectional 32nd scale model Right- 64th scale model of the north half of the FBI building
16th scale model with inserted structural system
Designing the Market’s Covering // collaging precedents
Designing the Market’s Covering // physical model and rhino modeling