American Enterprise Institute

working — 2010 — Washington, DC

American Enterprise Institute

Working entirely in DC’s highly-regulated public space, Moody Graham brought rich garden plantings and exceptional hardscape components to a bland urban space.

Using thorough site analysis and inspiration from the historic structure, connectivity was improved while creating places for pause along a busy corridor.

An exedra bench near the building’s entrance serves as the main feature of the landscape design. Hand-carved from granite, the bench is a show-stopping component of monumental proportions and anchors the design visually. Granite curbs, signs, and settes round out the hardscape.

Flanking the front stair, plants expand the building entrance. Alignment of trees with the building’s fenestrations bring health benefits without blocking critical views. The City’s requirement for maximizing pervious space is achieved through a diverse plant palette that embraces year-round interest. The garden embraces both the scale of the building as well as that of the pedestrian.

Photos by Allen Russ

Landscape Architecture Photographs – Washington DC, Maryland, MD, Virginia, VA

Site Analysis Diagram

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West Elevation Planting Design Studies - Planting was designed for four-season interest and relation to the façade

Exedra Bench

The exedra bench creates a moment of pause, carrying the scrollwork detailing of the building into the landscape, giving all outdoor elements a unified feel.

The placement and size of it serves to maximize the vantage point of street life while also preserving garden space.