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Advancing Science

AGU at the Helm in the Evolution of a Sustainable Future

Why This, Why Now?
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Behind the Construction

Your all-access pass to a first-of-its-kind net zero energy renovation project

Advancing AGU’s Mission

The project will showcase the Earth and space sciences and their impact on society, and be a physical embodiment of the spirit and values of scientific discovery.

People Power

Key decision makers discuss the unique and transparent planning process as it unfolds and keep you updated on lessons learned.

Net Zero Energy Design

What is net zero energy? Learn more about the technology that’s being used to create the first net zero energy commercial building renovation in the nation’s capital.

Conference Center

Where science and sustainability meet. AGU’s state-of-the-art conference center is now accepting event space reservations.

Project Updates

The latest news and construction progress

Renderings and Photos

Watch the project come to life before your eyes

Before and After

View of the AGU headquarters building exterior from the northeast intersection of Florida Avenue and 20th Street.

Rendering of the existing AGU exterior.Rendering of the proposed AGU exterior.

Gallery

The latest progress photos and project renderings.

Rendering of the proposed view from intersection of Florida Avenue and 20th Street.
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Rendering of the proposed view from intersection of Florida and Connecticut Avenues.
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A photograph of the team in hard hats standing in AGU's corner plaza with hands raised in celebration.
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prow-scaffolding
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Photograph of demolition of 5th Floor curtainwall, August 2017.
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Photograph of female members of the demolition crew on the AGU roof in August 2017.
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Building exterior in August 2017.
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A photo of Matthew Boyd, AGU Facilities Manager in the AGU headquarters basement while under renovation.
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A photograph of the construction crew working on roof demolition on September 8, 2017.
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Project in the News

Read what people are saying about the project

January 17, 2020
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"In general, net-zero energy buildings 'combine energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to consume only as much energy as can be produced onsite,' according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The American Geophysical Union building, located in Dupont Circle, is currently in the process of becoming a net-zero energy building. The new building will include stormwater collection and reuse, a solar photovoltaic array, and a dedicated outdoor air system, among other renovations." _______________________________________ Greater Greater Washington 

https://ggwash.org/view/75547/how-much-goes-into-making-buildings-in-dc-more-energy-efficient-it-depends-on-the-building
January 16, 2020
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"There are several significant changes in Hickok Cole’s design process due to the experience of working on the American Geophysical Union headquarters renovation to Net Zero Energy. First, we now insist that the full engineering team start concurrently with the design team. This early participation is furthered by staging a conceptual design charrette that lays out the potential strategies to achieve net-zero energy." _______________________________________ The Architect's Newspaper 

https://archpaper.com/2020/01/hickok-cole-facades-spotlight-dc-architectural-design-and-technology/
December 19, 2019
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"As the District endeavors to eliminate all carbon emissions by 2050, net-zero energy (NZE) construction is on the horizon to become the city standard. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) are currently administering a pilot program to speed the way for builders who are seeking to achieve net-zero energy (NZE) residential development." _______________________________________ Urban Turf 

https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dcra-and-dcseu-pilot-program-for-net-zero-energy-early-adopters/16215?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=keep_reading_link&utm_campaign=Friday+December+13th%2C+2019&omhide=true
June 8, 2018
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"[AGU] a nonprofit professional scientific organization whose members come from different fields of Earth and space sciences, has a guiding philosophy grounded in a single notion: “science for the benefit of humanity.” So when the systems inside its aging Washington, D.C. headquarters began to crumble, AGU officials had a decision to make. They could fix the failing systems in the nearly 25-year-old building — and leave the rest of the structure intact — or take the whole thing down to its studs and start over. Seeing the opportunity to design an entirely new “green” workplace, they opted for the latter." _______________________________________ Nexus Media

https://nexusmedianews.com/american-geophysical-union-goes-net-zero-388401392c67
March 16, 2018
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"Another recurring theme in how solar power is increasingly being incorporated into design is a sense of social and environmental responsibility—a perspective available to only a relatively privileged few—rather than an overarching concern for the bottom line. This ethos is prevalent in the homes in and around Aspen designed by CCY as well as larger-scale structures like the 62,000-square-foot home of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Washington, D.C. This circa-1994 building is currently being renovated by Hickok Cole Architects—with the goal of transforming it into a net-zero structure, one of only a few dozen in the country—by the spring of 2018."
Architect Magazine

http://www.architectmagazine.com/aia-architect/aiafeature/commodity-solar-power-and-delight_o
March 16, 2018
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"To achieve net zero, the AGU design and construction team used four key engineering principles: reduction, reclamation, absorption, and generation. From these four principles came 24 major energy efficiency and energy generation strategies, working together to get the buildings’ energy consumption to a level that could be offset with on-site renewable energy sources."
Urban Land Online

https://urbanland.uli.org/sustainability/residential-office-developers-preparing-realities-net-zero/