A 12-story mixed-use residential building.
Overlooking Nationals Park, West Half features 465 luxury units, 58,000 square feet of retail space, and three stories of below-grade parking.
Key Partners
- Bohler Engineering
- Century Engineering
- Eric Colbert & Associates
- HMWhite
- ODA
- SK&A
Awards & Certifications
- WBC Craftsmanship Award, Cast-in-Place Concrete, 2019
- WBC Craftsmanship Award, Exterior Glass, 2020
- WBC Craftsmanship Award, Architectural Millwork, 2020
- WBC Craftsmanship Award, Finishes, 2021
- SEA, Excellence in Structural Engineering, 2021
- LEED Gold
$138,000,000
CONTRACT VALUE
30 months
SCHEDULE
635,000
SQUARE FEET
2019
YEAR COMPLETED
120+
UNIQUE APARTMENT LAYOUTS
West Half’s cascading façade, deluxe amenities, and pedestrian-friendly environment aim to bring urban living to a new level.
Client Goals
Aiding in the revitalization of the Ballpark District, JBG Smith elevated urban living by providing more than 120 unique apartment layouts, multi-level amenities, 13 retail spaces, and direct views towards Nationals Park.
Design Vision
ODA’s emphasis on views and the transition between natural and built environments resulted in a multi-dimensional façade with terraces and cantilevered floor plates.
Construction Focus
The West Half project challenged the HITT team to build a difficult structure and on a tight urban site that was adjacent to multiple other active construction sites and amongst heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic. HITT’s emphasis on coordination, communication, and safety allowed for this project to be successful.
Dynamic Structure
The building’s façade is a hallmark element of the project with a highly terraced and articulated skin, accentuated with a combination of glass window wall systems, metal panels, glass railings, and balcony planters.
Unique Apartments
Amongst the 465 apartment units, there were studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with more than 120 unique layouts. Four interior design schemes alternated along every other floor and on opposite sides of the building.
Embedded in the Urban Fabric
With the revitalization of the Ballpark District, simultaneous construction was occurring in neighboring and nearby parcels, with five crane towers in coordination at one point. Nationals Park hosted the 2018 MLB All-Star game and the 2019 World Series, which resulted in increased coordination, off-hours work, and emphasis on safety and jobsite cleanliness.
HITT provided JBG Smith an exceptional construction experience through elevated communication and organization. The HITT team kept project stakeholders updated on the construction schedule, budget, and relationships with local jurisdictions. HITT put emphasis on the accuracy and quality of every detail and scope including MEP, façade, amenities, and railings.
“We knew this project was going to be a challenge due to its unique design and building form, as well as its tight site conditions directly adjacent to Nationals Park and two other active construction sites. We truly appreciate the time and energy the HITT team invested throughout the entire process. They meticulously coordinated finishes and trades to achieve the offsetting floor plate design that makes West Half so unique and an icon in the outfield. HITT's leadership and dedication helped us build a landmark project.”
ANTHONY GREENBERG
Executive Vice President, JBG Smith
Unique Challenges, Smart Solutions
Ambitious projects require carefully constructed solutions
Challenge #1
40,000+ fans walked by the site during games and events at Nationals Park. The main adjacent street to the building was closed three hours prior to the first pitch every game. During these shutdowns, HITT was not permitted to perform construction.
Solution
The HITT team worked closely with the local jurisdictions and other general contractors performing work in the nearby parcels to allow for the closure of Half Street. The team shared public space permits with adjacent active sites and coordinated construction and delivery schedules.
Challenge #2
Influenced by the cascading façade, the apartment layouts were irregularly stacked, resulting in more than 120 unique apartment layouts with isolated MEP systems.
Solution
A design-assist approach was taken to fix the MEP systems. A HITT team member went floor-by-floor and area-by-area to identify MEP clashes and offer solutions. This extra step saved valuable time while identifying alternative ways to construct the project without costly repairs.
Challenge #3
The design relied on cantilevers to assist with the cascading façade and general form of the building. The cantilever in the interior courtyard was exceptionally large, spanning 35 feet.
Solution
HITT took a “one team” approach to the cantilever installation alongside the structural engineer. The team kept a very close eye on this feature and provided scaffolding from the ground-level up.
Deluxe Amenities
West Half’s high-end amenities play a pivotal role in urban living, giving residents and their guests' enjoyment, entertainment, and relaxation.
Two-story level amenity spaces with panoramic views of Washington, DC.
West Half’s state-of-the-art fitness center is equipped with cardio and strength training equipment.
The floor-to-ceiling windows in the apartment create a light and airy feel.
Kitchens are equipped with full-size, energy-efficient, stainless steel appliances.
Sustainability
West Half achieved LEED Gold certification due to the urban site’s access to transportation, a rainwater collection system, and an energy-efficient envelope and HVAC system.
The Results
Cascading Structure
With an emphasis on views and blending the natural and built environments, West Half differentiates itself from the rest of the Ballpark District.
The highly terraced and articulated skin offers glass window and wall systems, metal panels, glass railings, and balcony planters.
The iconic West Half building can be spotted from the seats of Nationals Park.
West Half positions itself at the entrance and exit of Nationals Park.
Totaling 58,000 square feet of retail, the bottom two floors of West Half offer 13 retail spaces.
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