Washington, DC (August 2023)

The Inter-American Defense College (IADC) historic renovation, designed by KCCT, was recognized with a Design-Build Institute of America National Award of Merit. It has been a monumental year for the project as this marks the fourth award in 2023.

The renovation transitioned the Fort McNair officers' club into an education facility for the IADC, positioning the building to meet the goals of bringing together students from countries with different political, social, and economic viewpoints to capture the dynamics more fully within the hemisphere and develop collaborative responses to defense and security concerns.

“KCCT is honored to be selected by the National DBIA Award Committee for the renovation of the IADC,” said Gayle Kirchmar, AIA, Principal at KCCT. “Navigating a federal design-build historic renovation, KCCT was able to provide a design that restored this historic building to the original McKim, Mead & White design intent while transforming it into a contemporary learning facility.”

The design team restored a 49-foot mural, recreated the original wooden entry door, relocated an historic archway, daylighted previously bricked-over windows, and added life safety systems that did not intrude the historic structure.  The top two levels are referential to the historic design while the main level provides a teaching center to support active learning.

DBIA award winners are selected by a distinguished panel of industry experts and are recognized as the nation’s best design-build projects and leadership in best practices.

The project team will be recognized at the DBIA Design-Build Conference & Expo Awards Ceremony in November 2023.

Firm History

Washington DC based KCCT is a multi-disciplinary design firm focused on planning, architecture, and interior design in urban environments. The firm’s unique practice features a regional portfolio of prominent new development, renovations and infrastructure in Washington’s Federal Core, and an international component including fourteen new US Diplomatic facilities and worldwide projects in more than 160 cities.