Leo A. Daly, in collaboration with other firms, was given the job of renovating and restoring the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design Renovation for The George Washington University in Washington DC.

As the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design is transitioned into GW’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the historic Corcoran Building is being restored and renovated into a 21st century teaching and museum space for a variety of fine arts and design programs.

The Corcoran’s home was built in 1897 across from the White House. Designed by Ernest Flagg and expanded in 1928 by Charles Adams Platt, the building has housed both public galleries and the school under one roof, continuing a Beaux Arts education into the modern day.

While the National Gallery of Art is currently the custodian of the collection (and will continue holding public exhibitions in the second floor galleries), the rest of the building is being updated or converted for use as classrooms, art labs, student galleries, and faculty and administration space.

Goals for this two-phase project include repairing and restoring the building’s infrastructure and envelope, updating fire and life safety, providing museum-quality systems to protect the National Gallery of Art’s collections, and creating a unique identity for the Corcoran School within GW.

Architects: Leo A. Daly in collaboration with Davis Buckley Architects, Silman, Mueller, GHD, WDP and Van Deusen & Associates
Photography: Ron Blunt