The two 11-story towers of 670 and 680 Maine Avenue SW are connected by a unique post-tensioned bridge with a dramatic central opening called The Oculus! “The oval aperture not only admits sunlight and rainwater to the oasis-like grove of trees below, but also introduces a subtle inversion of the expected relationship between architectural form and open space – while the building stands as an object in urban space, the Oculus in turn captures and frames a portion of that space to create an open-air room.” (Moeller, 18)
SK&A Structural Engineers is delighted to be the structural engineer of record for this and numerous other innovative structures at The Wharf DC. Situated along the Potomac River, 670 and 680 Maine had an outstanding design and construction team, including SHoP Architects, WDG Architecture, Perkins Eastman, AMT Consulting, Balfour Beatty Construction, and Salas O’Brien.
Sources Cited: Moeller, G. Place Specific. Architecture DC, Summer 2023, 18-23
Learn more about SK&A’s work on this project here
View the entire Summer 2023 Architecture DC article
Sources Cited: Carnes, C. Pretty as a Picture. Architecture DC, Summer 2023, 68-73
