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Advancing Science

AGU at the Helm in the Evolution of a Sustainable Future

Why This, Why Now?
The Latest

Behind the Construction

Your all-access pass to a first-of-its-kind 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 Design

What is net zero? Find out about the impacts of zero design and the technology that’s being proposed for the first net zero commercial building renovation in the nation’s capital.

Project Timeline

Two years of planning and construction. Years in the making.

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

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/
March 16, 2018
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"If net-zero new construction is a lofty goal, net-zero retrofits are in the stratosphere. Taking an existing building and incorporating enough efficiency and energy production to get to zero is extremely difficult. But that doesn’t stop people from doing it. Two non-profit organizations in different parts of the country are currently undergoing transformations to their facilities with the idea of achieving net-zero. The organizations, situations and approaches to net-zero are different, but their goals are the same—to serve as an example and make the world a better, healthier place."
Retrofit Magazine

https://retrofitmagazine.com/sustainability-minded-non-profits-work-upgrade-buildings-net-zero-energy/
March 16, 2018
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"The utility is also hoping to eventually sell access to its sewer system, so buildings can reroute air flow to use the sewer's natural heat and lower heating and cooling costs. Crews are already installing a test system during a renovation of the American Geophysical Union building on Florida Avenue in Northwest. It's part of the design to create the first net zero energy building in the District."
NBC Washington

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Water-Tries-to-Lower-Customers-Bills-by-Marketing-Inventions-466865913.html
March 16, 2018
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"The renovated American Geophysical Union has space to fill — perhaps the greenest space in all of Washington. The 66,000-square-foot AGU building at 2000 Florida Ave. NW is being retrofitted with a rooftop solar array, auto-tinting SageGlass, a green wall and a municipal sewer heat exchange system, all with the goal of producing enough renewable energy to offset the energy it uses — the definition of net-zero."
Washington Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/11/06/what-may-be-the-greenest-office-building-in-d-c.html?ana=RSS%26s=article_search