It is the possibilities that inspire us to :
At DBI, we are inspired by the spark—that vivid and powerful moment when a client’s needs and a designer’s vision coalesce into one cohesive design strategy. Our designers’ enthusiasm and expertise ensure that this strategy is implemented in the best possible way, developing client spaces of unparalleled functionality and sophistication.
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE & MASTER PLANNING
DBI’s architectural designs and master plans resonate, creating environments where people want to work, to live, to be. Our work is creative and forward-thinking, embracing contemporary design, delivering cutting-edge, dynamic results.
Our architectural portfolio is made up of commercial office buildings, private schools, colleges and universities, and churches – the identity, style, and appeal of each defined by a unique and sophisticated approach. Bringing deep expertise in building design, we strive to maximize functionality, utility, and value, meeting the demands of large projects while being intimately involved in the details.
DBI’s master planning services comprehensively evaluate the characteristics of a specific property, providing conceptual layouts to guide current and future growth and development. Then we illustrate the design concepts that work best for the site to:
/ Conceptualize and shape the three-dimensional environment;
/ Develop phasing and implementation schedules;
/ Identify priorities for action;
/ Define public, semiprivate, and private spaces and public amenities;
/ Determine the mix of uses and their physical relationship;
/ Act as a framework to attract private- and public-sector interest and investment.
DBI’s experience and expertise provide a reliable guide through the range of land use, zoning, traffic, environmental, and demographic issues that often arise during complex projects.
Bethesda, MD/ 220,269 SF
This project called for the design of a new Class A office building that would connect three existing buildings on a 40-acre collaborative intelligence campus. DBI participated as Lead Architect for Interiors with a team that included AECOM and LEO A DALY, creating and developing a vision for the interior spaces and the overall design concepts for the main reception, amenity gallery, café, fitness center, market space, credit union, 500-seat auditorium, 500seat cafeteria, health unit, and all office space.
Ashburn, VA / 2,500,000 SF
Adjacent to the Ashburn Metro Station (the terminus of the Silver Line) in Loudoun County, and less than 10 miles from Dulles International Airport, Gramercy District is a transit-oriented development on 16 acres fronting the north side of the Dulles Greenway. The site is the western-most anchor on an axis of major employment centers between Loudoun County and Washington DC, potentially providing 300,000 SF of retail and office space, 1,000 apartments, and central pedestrian plaza. Gramercy is positioned to be a major gateway to Loudoun County, the fastest-growing region in the Washington Metropolitan area. Gramercy will foster an amenity-rich, work-live-play environment, while also providing the convenience of direct access to mass transit via the Silver Line.
Replacing an existing three-story building with two three-story campus-style Class A commercial office buildings, Old Reston Avenue is an example of new minimalist design. The project provides a modern, innovative, and sustainable architectural statement along Old Reston Avenue while complementing, and contrasting with the Classical Revival / Federal style of the Bowman House. Low horizontal massing and scale of the new structures provide an anchoring backdrop to this historic structure. Clean, simple design elements integrate the buildings with the landscape and the site.
Leesburg, VA / 120,000 SF
The Courthouse Square project was designed to provide approximately 120,000 GSF of Class A office and retail space, as well as 335 parking spaces in a five-story garage . The building’s design accomplishes three objectives: it (1) reflects the town character by using additive massing and complementary materials; (2) provides a mid-block background building of appropriate density for a first-class office and mixed-use space; and (3) harmonizes with the historic Town green and courthouse complex across East Market Street.
Tampa, FL
The Meridian at Brandon is a senior living community that includes 102 Independent and Assisted Living Units and 30 Memory Care Units. Designed like a boutique hotel, The Meridian at Brandon features elegant decor, grand spaces, and resort-style features and amenities. Welldesigned apartment homes with upscale features are convenient to dining and daily activity offerings. The 2-story concrete construction is designed to withstand winds up to 140 mph.
Prince George’s
Set close to the existing National Harbor, the concept for National View is to develop a unified, multiuse community that is walkable and bikeable, and which takes into consideration the rich history of the surroundings, as well as minimizing its environmental impact. The site leverages stunning views of Washington DC, Alexandria VA, and the Potomac River.
URBAN VILLA WRAPPER
URBAN VILLA WRAPPER
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL
RETAIL BASE FRONTING STREETS AND PLAZAS
RETAIL BASE FRONTING STREETS AND PLAZAS
DAY CARE AT BASE OF RESIDENTIAL
DAY CARE AT BASE OF RESIDENTIAL
POLICE SUBSTATION
POLICE SUBSTATION
RETAIL BASE FRONTING STREETS AND PLAZAS
RETAIL BASE FRONTING STREETS AND PLAZAS
RESIDENTIAL
SITE PLAN LAYOUT / NATIONAL VIEW / 01-21-2021
SITE PLAN LAYOUT / NATIONAL VIEW / 01-21-2021
POTOMAC HERITAGE TRAIL NETWORK / NATIONAL VIEW / 01-21-2021
POTOMAC HERITAGE TRAIL NETWORK / NATIONAL VIEW / 01-21-2021
Prince George’s County, MD
Located in an Opportunity Zone, Enterprise Zone, and HUD Zone, the development at 1501 Southern Avenue would address the need for senior and affordable housing, and would address a federallydesignated food desert, though various retail options, such as grocery store, casual dining, and neighborhood retail. Public safety would be key, as would walkable, bikeable, green development.
VIEW OF GROCERY STORE ENTRANCE
VIEW LOOKING WEST ALONG INTERIOR STREET
VIEW OF DEVELOPMENT ENTRANCE FROM SOUTHERN AVENUE
VIEW OF ASSISTED LIVING BUILDING
Suggesting four uses, taken from the Town of Leesburg Comprehensive Plan, DBI’s proposal constitutes best uses for this town property, including a Performing Arts Center, Conference Center, affordable senior housing, and improved public and private parking. Two levels of public parking (approximately 124 spaces) would be constructed in addition to the performing arts theater, a conference center, restaurant, and community lawn.
Dallas, TX / 173 residential unit mixed-use building with 3,249 SF Community Center and 4,219 SF Daycare
Fronting onto the Trinity River, 1027 S Riverfront Boulevard has access to a broad green swath that spans the entire north and east sides of Dallas. The address is also convenient to busy highways, and is only blocks away from downtown, the Convention Center District, the Main Street District, the West End Historic District, and more. The building will accommodate 90% Affordable Housing.
Washington, DC / 5,950 SF
This pro bono project, which began as an intended minor refresh of an outdated headquarters for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington at 4103 Benning Road NE in Washington, DC became a major renovation and a “labor of love.” The goal of the renovation was to create a current and elegant aesthetic with limited resources, providing an elegant, functional, and timeless space that would empower staff in their work. The final product vastly improves the presence of the exterior façade, and increases safety and security of employees and visitors.
With each new interior project, DBI begins by observing. We observe, and we listen, to better understand how a space must function, to meet the client’s needs. We observe and we listen, to create dynamic spaces that meet those needs..
DBI approaches each project as an opportunity to explore the unique qualities it presents — site, client, user groups, and organizational culture. Every project is a quest for the best possible solution. DBI’s enthusiasm and expertise ensure that this strategy is implemented in the most strategic way, developing spaces of unparalleled functionality and sophistication, positioned to foster meaningful human interaction and successful business outcomes.
In addition to analyzing the client’s space objectives and design standards, DBI’s visioning process considers how emerging trends we see today are shaping the future. We work with the client to support new modes that they seek to embrace, recognizing that the success of implementing flexible and alternative environments relies on the facilitation of communication, and sometimes depends on organizational reconfiguration, along with well-integrated and effective technology. Our work for every project represents a unique response that embodies an internal consistency of detail, materiality, sustainability, and technological integration.
From specialty suites to entire buildings, DBI’s interior architectural designs resonate, creating environments where people want to work, to live, to be. Our work embraces forward-thinking, contemporary design, delivering to our clients cutting-edge, dynamic, creative results.
Manassas, VA / 34,500 SF
While working with American Type Culture Collection [ATCC] on its headquarters expansion project, the objective was to create a space embodying the company’s culture, built on scientific innovation, collaboration, and teaming, while maintaining a high level of corporate professionalism. The design philosophy was to keep the palette simple, using only a few materials, while incorporating into every aspect ATCC’s strong scientific brand, mission statement, corporate colors, core values, and corporate commitments.
This design addresses the client’s desire for high-end, executive level design for their new corporate office. Designed to make the most of natural light, the space includes private offices with all glass fronts on the perimeter that also allow unhindered visibility of the beautiful views outside. The design team created a space that is modern, yet incorporates traditional elements such as brass light fixtures, solid textured carpeting, wood veneer wall panel, dark wood finishes, Carrara patterned flooring, etc.
Arlington, VA / 22,475 SF
The speculative suites at 4501 N Fairfax Drive consist of 6 separate units. Designed for flexibility to allow for easy modification to combine adjacent suites or to modify for prospective tenants, full glass front-framed windows provide all users with daylight through to the core. Each suite has a dedicated conference room and coffee station, and all suites share access to the town hall amenities, including 3 conference rooms, 2 phone/huddle rooms, a shared pantry/cafe with nitro brew coffee bar, and 2 lounges. The design concept focuses on opportunities for tenants to lease a smaller footprint suite with access to the shared amenities to provide flexibility in design while minimizing burden. The suites and amenity spaces are designed with sophistication. Clean, sleek, simple lines with pops of graphic wallcoverings bring energy and inspiration to the space.
Rockville, MD / 16,372 SF
While working with Standard Solar on its new headquarters in Rockville, MD, the main objective was creation of a space embodying the purpose-driven mission of its staff and culture, built on innovation, collaboration, and teaming, while infusing a clean design with an energy, brightness, and warmth that is reminiscent of solar rays themselves. You are immediately welcomed at Standard Solar with rich hues and vibrant yellow tones, crisp high-gloss whites, warm walnut veneer, exposed polished concrete floors, and a custom reception desk that incorporates actual solar panels. The open studio space was broken into five main neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has a vibrant backdrop of color with custom graphics that tie into Standard Solar’s branding. All workstations were designed with height adjustable desks to maximize human ergonomics and to allow access to natural light and views.
When Constellis opted to consolidate their headquarters into one centralized headquarters facility, they called DBI to design over 90,000 SF of floor space on 3 floors. The innovative solution includes an Executive Suite, roomy and ample open-plan workstations, and private offices ringing each level. Frosted glass fronts were selected to allow natural sunlight to penetrate to all inner areas. DBI designers infused the Constellis brand into the space by taking the company logo – a freedrawn star – and expanding on the angles. The faceted reception desk, open-plenum ceilings, dual-toned carpeting, and acoustical ceilings in the break rooms all leverage those angles. A Feature Wall displays a star for each Constellis employee whose life has been lost in performance of their duties.
Washington, DC / 8,610 RSF
Tysons, VA / 11,807 RSF
To provide the executive and polished look that KLNB sought, DBI implemented a clean, minimalist palette of warm white, dark oak veneer, crisp marble, and accents of stainless steel, raw black steel, and indigo. The office layout features team-based, collaborative working areas, as well as traffic patterns with strategically placed intersections that increase staff interaction and, as a result, enhance team productivity. State-of-the-art conference rooms, located adjacent to the reception area, utilize the latest in audio-visual technology, so KLNB staff can easily connect with staff members across the globe.
America Mclean, VA / 13,474 SF
A refined design with rugged masculine undertones greets you as you enter the new US Corporate Headquarters for FN America, LLC, a global leader in development and manufacture of firearms. Crisp, cream ceramic tile and custom-stained decking material, installed horizontally as shiplap, serve as a dramatic backdrop. Rich Indigo blues paired with warm camel desert tones tie the space together while focusing on the brand. State-of-the-art reconfigurable conference rooms utilize the latest in audio-visual technology, allowing FN America to collaborate with its staff around the world.
DBI designed a sculptural wall installation of over 2,200 gun parts, painted matte black to allow the wall to be viewed as one unit instead of the individual parts from which it was created. This distinct feature is paired with a chiseled stone entry wall displaying the FN America logo.
Alexandria, VA / 4,402 SF
A corporate interiors build-out featuring a primarily open plan punctuated by huddle rooms. Executive offices were placed at the perimeter. The client’s objective was to showcase its brand, and provide a workplace environment that would foster teamwork and collaboration. Standout design elements include raw materials, such as brick and warm wood tones, and a black ceiling. A stacking slider at the single conference room allows the client to have private meetings, as well as to open the space to the reception area for larger functions.
Summit’s space embodies the purpose-driven mission of its staff – a culture built on innovation, collaboration, and teaming. A clean design infused with a vibrant flair, it’s a flexible environment accommodating nearly 150 employees. Beyond the colorful reception area, an open studio space is broken into four neighborhoods. Each includes simple “benching-type” workstations, private meeting rooms, phone booths, and open collaborative lounge areas — or “collision zones” — to promote impromptu discussions. All enclosed offices are double occupied with full-height glass walls to maintain the visual connection to the adjacent studio and natural light. A central break room, or “living room,” is at the heart of the studio. A multifunctional space for both dining and collaborating, the space features raw polished concrete floors with an open plenum and exposed random deck-mounted light fixtures. A custom trellis for a living wall serves as the backdrop.
Inspired by California’s “surf city” vibe, this West Coast-based company infused its East Coast location near Capitol Hill with a beachy yet simple palette of ocean, indigo, and violet, underscored by clean modern lines. The design embodies the purpose-driven mission of its staff and culture, built on innovation, collaboration, and teaming, while infusing a minimalist design with a vibrant flair throughout. Maintaining a flexible and casual working environment was key. The open studio space was broken into seven neighborhoods. Each includes streamlined open workstations, private meeting rooms, phone booths, and open collaborative lounge areas to promote impromptu discussions. Most enclosed offices were double occupied with full-height glass walls to maintain the visual connection to the adjacent studio and natural light.
MD / 40,356 SF
A clean palette of warm whites, beige marble, classic walnut, and accents of stainless steel welcomes you as you enter Donohoe’s new headquarters. DBI worked with Donohoe on every aspect of its new corporate headquarters, changing the existing culture of enclosed non-windowed offices to an open, collaborative, fun, and functional environment, while maintaining the level of corporate professionalism that Donohoe requires. The design philosophy was to keep the palette simple, using only a few materials, and focus on the architectural details, while allowing natural light into all aspects of this office space, and to steep the space in Donohoe’s brand, mission statement, corporate logo, colors, and corporate commitments.
Incorporating benching workstations with glass wall office fronts for internal offices ensures that the entire space is filled with natural light. Phone booths, video teleconferencing rooms, and conference rooms are included, to provide privacy for individual or group calls, or meetings, as is a spacious conferencing center. Collaboration areas serve as touchdown and meeting spaces for resident and visiting SAIC employees.
A space that embodies the purpose-driven mission of GetWellNetwork, a culture built on innovation, collaboration, and teaming. With the goal of infusing the company’s Six Commitments, patient and inspirational quotes, employee rules, and GWN logo/emoticon/corporate colors, all design decisions and material selections were made to ensure that these items were implemented consistently.
Bethesda, MD / 26,476 SF
Repositioning older buildings is a strategy undertaken to increase a property’s value. Redesign of exteriors and interior spaces, and adding amenities like fitness rooms, tenant lounges, and terraces contribute to what essentially becomes “new” office, retail, experiential, residential, or multiuse space.
Recent counts put the inventory of commercial buildings in the United States at about 5.6 million, covering nearly 90 billion square feet. Roughly half of these buildings were constructed before 1980. Obviously, these older structures were built to very different standards than those we see today.
These may be valuable structures, sitting on valuable real estate. The cost to demolish and rebuild might exceed the cost of updating for code and marketability. Or, they might be relics of a different time – factories or warehouses that no longer fit with the zoned uses of a particular area, but still that retain some intrinsic value quite separate from use type or costs of demolition and construction. The building might fit in so well with its surroundings that it makes sense to leverage its heirloom or idiosyncratic qualities.
In the case of an office building, a repositioning might be about refreshing the lookand-feel, and adding value, to present the greatest potential to prospective tenants. Outdated factories and industrial buildings could see new use as a brewery, or shared workspace. Warehouses might get a new life as condominiums or apartments.
Over the past several years, DBI has been engaged to execute a range of repositioning projects, including transitioning an abandoned building in a neglected industrial area into a state-of-the-art craft brewery in a thriving historical district, and reviving a 1970’s era Washington DC office building and turning it into an amenities-rich tenant magnet, among many others.
Washington, DC / 110,587 RSF
The repositioning/upgrade of a 1970s-era, 11-story, precast concrete office building replaced a dated front façade with a sleek modern design, renovated the main lobby, restrooms, and elevator lobbies; and added 3,700 SF of habitable space at the penthouse level for a conference center, restrooms, wellness center, and roof terrace. New features include an energy-efficient, structural silicone-glazed curtain wall system; signage and canopy for stronger street presence; and ultra-clear glass to promote visibility and create a more inviting space. The façade’s new structure, placed over three colors of glass, creates a “super grid” of alternating hues that divide planes along a cascading scale of color.
Falls Church, VA / 3,110 SF
This conversion of an outdated former bank headquarters transformed a dated and dark space into a light-filled and welcoming amenity for the tenants of Lookout at 6400. Opening the interior space to the building’s panoramic views of Northern Virginia brings a “trophy-class” amenity to the property. Elements such as hardwood floors, fireplace, and crown molding were retained, adding warmth and charm.
The transformation of a 188,000-SF out-of-date office building into a Class A, amenity-rich asset created sophisticated, vibrant, and collaborative environments that accommodate various work styles and tenant activities. The scope of the project included a 5-story atrium lobby, conference facility, new elevator and restroom upgrades, terrace, fitness center, and mechanical system. A 5-bay loading dock was reimagined as a 4,000-SF tenant lounge now known as “The Dock.”
Washington, DC / 110,587 RSF
This 167,039-SF commercial office building, located a short walk from the future Innovation Center Metro and only 3 miles from Dulles International Airport was repositioned to include a modernized main lobby and restrooms, a new amenities facility featuring a 16-seat boardroom with full AV/IT capabilities, as well as a 96-occupant conference suite that can be reconfigured into two smaller conference rooms. A new fitness center was added, and an exterior plaza featuring new entry and exit doors from the fitness center, café, and lounge areas to facilitate access between DEP I and II. Conference areas, also offering informal at-bar seating, are supported by an adjacent pantry, kitchen, servery, and café.
High ceilings and pops of color in the furniture and fixtures allowed the completion of an eye-catching and inviting design – visible from lobby – of a revitalized lounge space located in a small and unrentable area, “landlocked” between the main lobby, a service corridor, and a loading dock. A conference center completes the amenities upgrade, making the KBS Redwood an attractive property for potential tenants.
For this repositioning project, Transwestern selected DBI to redesign several amenities spaces within this Class A, 6-story office building located within walking distance to the Herndon Metro. The scope of work areas renovated include the building’s main lobby, core restrooms, elevator cabs, a tenant lounge and game room, an 80-seat conference center, a fitness center with locker rooms, an on-site 45-seat café, and a new outdoor terrace with covered seating. DBI provided a full furniture package and designed the building’s marketing suite.
Combining elements of design and construction, retail design is a specialized practice within architecture and interior design. Incorporating elements of industrial design, graphic design, ergonomics, branding and advertising, retail design today is con cerned with user experience, seeking to ultimately embed the encounter as a value separate from products or services purchased.
Heavy demands are placed on retail space. These spaces must be designed in a way that promotes positive shopping interaction, providing intuitive, dynamic spaces that facilitate successful exploration on the part of the consumer, leading to successful outcomes for both the customer and the retailer.
Experiential spaces take this idea even further. Experiential Interior Design provides spaces that motivate sales and elevate brand. By placing people at the center of the space and activity, these designs place emphasis on positive experiences. Incorporating hands-on participation in the design, these spaces emphasize doing, as part of – or all of – the primary component of interaction within the space. Consumers today are no longer passive entities. Studies show that Young Urban Professionals tend to consume entertainment and nightlife as a primary way of defining who they are and how they evaluate others. As a primary product, experience is many times valued over merchandise. This has given rise to retail-level cooking schools, do-it-yourself maker spaces and hacklabs, and other concepts. Spaces providing physical interaction are becoming the new retail destination. Forming relationships through experience, these venues fill a need in today’s retail environment that is broad and deep.
Ashburn, VA / 110,587 RSF
The “perfectly imperfect” aesthetic – refined yet rustic, urbane yet approachable – conveyed in DBI’s design for Fortessa brings an organic, comfortable feel and a steely industrial quality, a juxtaposition articulated by reclaimed wood wall panels wrapping throughout, uniting different space types, polished concrete floors, thoughtfully curated and positioned sleek light fixtures, and a paradise of gleaming tableware products displayed on farm tables and iron racks.
Fairfax, VA / 3,200 RSF
Building on the success of the first DBI-designed Caboose Brewery in Vienna, DBI designed a second brewery in the Mosaic District of Fairfax, VA. Although at heart, an extension of the brand, the reclaimed wood gives the space an entirely new and relaxed feel. The space includes indoor and outdoor tasting rooms. The outdoor tasting room is the largest of its kind in the area. A beautiful steel staircase guides you to the top of the two mezzanines that overlook the entire brewery, perfect for private parties or gatherings. Caboose Commons is designed and permitted to grow into a distillery. The full kitchen serves farm fresh food, ideal for any occasion or family gathering.
A co-working office space to serve the DC suburbs, Brickyard serves as a “third place” between home and office, two spheres blended through the incorporation of casual and professional design elements. Open studio layout with minimal separation between stations, Brickyard in Ashburn is a prototype for future locations.
VA
For Cookology, DBI designed a recreational culinary school offering professionally taught, hands-on cooking classes for the public and professional training for food service industry specialists. This location is Cookology’s second (the first being Dulles, VA). The new space is comprised of five separate commercial kitchens that can be joined into one large space for private events.
District Hardware relocated from Foggy Bottom to the new Wharf neighborhood to increase its retail space and gain exposure to a new clientele. To renovate the large space, which was previously comprised of three tenants’ businesses, DBI optimized the floor plan, and moving walls and conduits. District Hardware is a True Value reseller, so half of the building space is devoted to the hardware store, while the remainder is shared between a bike shop and the Velo Café, a small in-store eatery that features local coffee and beer. A bike repair shop is tucked under the space’s mezzanine, and offices and support spaces are located upstairs.
The street-level café also has a serving window to accommodate patrons grabbing a quick cup of coffee to go.
It is the possibilities that inspire us to :
