The Trump Hotel Collection is preparing a $200 million redevelopment of the Old Post Office, a prominent landmark in Washington, D.C. The renovation plans for Trump International Hotel, The Old Post Office, Washington, D.C., reference Romanesque and European architectural traditions while interpreting those influences from a distinctly American perspective. The Trump organization has engaged Beyer Blinder Belle as architect, Hirsch Bedner Associates as interior design consultant, and John Cullinane & Associates as historic advisors and preservation specialists.
“This project is about the past meeting the future in a seamless pairing that will result in a level of luxury previously unseen in this market,” said Ivanka Trump. “This building exemplifies iconic American grandeur. Our design draws on the legacy and integrity of this great landmark but it is executed in a thoroughly modern way.”
One of the principal design moves is to reopen the 11th Street pedestrian entrance onto Pennsylvania Avenue, transforming it into a canopied grand entry. This approach restores historic circulation patterns while creating a striking new threshold between the city and the hotel.
Hany Hassan, partner at Beyer Blinder Belle, described the entrance and canopy as “a distinctly new architectural composition at the end of the reinstated 11th Street.” Using materials such as backlit marble and limited-mullion glass, the design aims to provide a simple yet elegant counterpoint to the monumental presence of the Old Post Office. Without altering the historic fabric of the building, a new steel-and-glass porte-cochere will cantilever outward, producing a luminous glass ceiling and a welcoming arrival experience.
At the core of the hotel will be the Cortile, a dramatic nine-story atrium conceived as the social center of the property. The Cortile will house the grand lobby and lounge, creating an interior courtyard where sunlight filters from above through a soft canopy of planted trees. This space is intended to feel open and inviting while preserving the dignity of the landmark setting.
Construction was scheduled to begin in spring 2014 with an anticipated completion in late 2015. The program balances preservation and contemporary interventions to adapt the historic building for use as a luxury hotel while maintaining its architectural character.
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