DC DPW Salt Storage Facility

This facility for the DC Department of Public Works houses 7500 tons of salt for use on the roads of the district. A pattern of colored ribbed metal panels creates visual interest on an otherwise utilitarian industrial building. The design was coordinated with the Federal Commission of Fine Arts because of its location on the city’s entry corridor at South Capitol Street and Route 395.

The approvals process for this challenging urban site required coordination with city agencies as well as the numerous security-conscious neighbors at the Joint Base Anacostia Bolling and the Coast Guard HQ.

Site challenges included design of a structured slab on piles that avoid utility mains and provide structural support on poor urban fill. The site includes staging areas for salt trucks and landscaping that matches the adjacent properties along the corridor.