Commercial Architecture June 2019 - 26

▲

PROJECT

| adaptive re-use

Lighthouse
On The Hill
Shines Again
Bell Tower at Stanton
Park adaptive re-use
project demonstrates the
sensitivity and respect
deserved by historical
churches.
Lauren Perry Ford, AIA, LEED AP,
Associate Principal, Cooper Carry

n 1976, a large segment of Washington's Capitol Hill
neighborhood was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places in recognition of the important archi-

The "Lighthouse on the Hill" served multiple congregations since its construction in 1891. Today, with its historical exterior intact, it houses six condominiums. All photos: Sean Shanahan

tectural and cultural significance of many of its buildings. Boasting proximity to the seat of government on

graphics and the economic burden of maintaining aging

years it was the home of Eastern Presbyterian Church

the National Mall, Capitol Hill is largely composed of

buildings have made continued function untenable for

and echoed with the sermons, songs, and fellowship of its

rowhouses built during the Federal period (1800 to 1820)

many others. Often left vacant as congregations move to

congregation. After World War II, membership decreased

to house people who worked for the fledgling federal gov-

the suburbs, inner-city churches around the country are

as many congregants moved to new developments in the

ernment in the years following the city's establishment as

especially vulnerable to abandonment and decay. This

suburbs. This led Eastern Presbyterian to consolidate

the nation's capital.

has particular perils for an historic district that relies on

itself with a nearby congregation and offer the build-

the preservation of significant buildings to retain its

ing for sale in 1955 to the Greater Mount Zion Baptist

historical character.

Church, which owned and worshiped there for another

Among the District's first residential neighborhoods,
Capitol Hill is primarily composed of those rowhouses
built through the Victorian era (to 1910) that form the

How can these architectural treasures be preserved

core of the structures contributing to its historic designa-

when they are no longer suited to the function for which

In 1994, a third church, the African American Catho-

tion. Since the neighborhood was one of the earliest to

they were built? Recent interest in adaptive reuse has

lic Congregation Inc., also known as the Imani Temple,

adopt widespread installation of electricity, indoor plumb-

opened new avenues for bringing older religious buildings

bought the building.

ing, and piped water after the Civil War, it soared in pop-

back into useful service.

ularity and experienced a building boom between 1890

40 years.

After its own rewarding chapter, church leadership
decided that the building no longer met its needs. With

CHURCH HERITAGE

the general waning of religious participation in the United

Many of its most significant buildings date from that

At the corner of Maryland Ave. and Sixth Street NE,

States, coupled with the building's ongoing maintenance

period. Nestled amid the rowhouses are other architectur-

across from Stanton Park, sits a stately Romanesque

challenges-well beyond the patch and repair work that

al landmarks that served the neighborhood in cultural

Revival edifice of Potomac Bluestone, with limestone

had kept it functioning-they were not able to find anoth-

and societal functions, including some notable religious

trim, built in 1891. Designed by noted Washington archi-

er congregation interested in purchasing it. Yet its histori-

buildings.

tect Appleton P. Clark, Jr., the 16,800-sq. ft. building has

cal value made it impossible to simply destroy. They

Though some of these structures are still used for their

a prominent 130-ft.-tall round bell tower and was once

turned to the idea of adapting the building for an entirely

original purposes, changes in the neighborhood's demo-

nicknamed "the lighthouse on the hill." For sixty-two

different purpose.

and 1910.

JUNE 2019

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T UREM AG A ZINE.COM

Commercial Architecture June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture June 2019