Featured Project

West Half

Washington, DC

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.

Location

Washington, DC

Client

JBG Smith

Project Type

Mixed-Use
Base Building

Multifamily

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

By the Numbers By the Numbers By the Numbers By the Numbers By the Numbers

CONTRACT VALUE

SCHEDULE

SQUARE FEET

YEAR COMPLETED

UNIQUE APARTMENT LAYOUTS

Vision Vision Vision Vision Vision

West Half’s cascading façade, deluxe amenities, and pedestrian-friendly environment aim to bring urban living to a new level.

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.

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.

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.

Elements Elements Elements Elements Elements

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.

The HITT Experience The HITT Experience The HITT Experience The HITT Experience The HITT Experience

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.

THE HITT EXPERIENCE

“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

Solutions Solutions Solutions Solutions Solutions

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.

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.