Building Two, St. Elizabeths East

Building 2 represents the next phase in the realization of the Parcel 17 master plan at the St. Elizabeths East Campus, a framework developed by Winstanley Architects & Planners to guide the transformation of a prominent transit-oriented site into a cohesive mixed-use destination. Following the completion of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, Building 2 advances the vision of a multi-building ensemble organized around a shared civic plaza and connected to the Congress Heights Metro Station.

The approximately 152,938-square-foot Class A mixed-use office building occupies the eastern portion of Parcel 17, reinforcing the site’s role as a gateway between new development on the East Campus and the surrounding neighborhoods. Positioned within a rapidly evolving district shaped by public-private partnership, the project contributes to a broader strategy of creating a vibrant employment and services hub east of the Anacostia River, integrating healthcare, government, residential, and commercial uses within a walkable transit-oriented environment.

The architectural approach balances contemporary workplace demands with the historic and institutional context of the St. Elizabeths campus. Massing, materiality, and public realm design respond to multiple design review authorities while maintaining a cohesive identity with the larger master plan. The building’s relationship to the central plaza establishes an active ground plane that encourages pedestrian movement, social interaction, and visual continuity across the parcel.

As a cost-conscious development within an emerging neighborhood, the design emphasizes efficiency, flexibility, and long-term adaptability. Floor plates are organized to accommodate a range of tenants, including government and private sector users, while supporting evolving workplace models. The project prioritizes sustainable urban design strategies and transit accessibility, leveraging its adjacency to Metro infrastructure to reduce reliance on automobiles and strengthen connections to the broader city.

Building 2 extends the transformative ambitions of the St. Elizabeths East Campus — not as an isolated office building, but as a critical component of a larger urban vision that seeks to catalyze economic opportunity, foster inclusive growth, and reinforce the role of architecture as a driver of civic identity.