The potential turnover of federal Brutalist buildings in D.C. offers not just redevelopment opportunities but a chance to thoughtfully preserve and adapt a significant architectural legacy. Some of the city’s Brutalist government buildings are currently slated to be sold off or vacated, as part of a massive downsizing of federal properties. This moment invites important questions for the design community: What should happen with these buildings, and what is their potential for other purposes? Gene Weissman, Vice President of Architecture Inc., emphasizes the value of preservation as a way to capture and catalog pivotal cultural and technological moments in American history.

Architecture, Inc.'s work on projects like the Hilton National Mall at L’Enfant Plaza—converted into a mixed-use space combining offices and a hotel—demonstrates how Brutalist structures can be revitalized through adaptive reuse. Gene envisions even greater potential with the addition of street-level retail to activate and humanize these often imposing buildings. Sometimes, this takes strategic reinvention to honor the past through historic preservation and adaptive reuse while serving the evolving needs of the city.