600 Fifth

WSP engineers helped reimagine 600 Fifth, the former eight story Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority headquarters, into a next generation Class A office destination.

Location

Washington, DC, USA

Client

Rockefeller Group

Architect

Pickard Chilton

Winner

ENR Midwest Award of Merit

Defined by daylight, fresh air and a public realm mindset, the project team repositioned and modernized the existing structure. The redevelopment included a vertical expansion to create a highly amenitized workplace, delivering nearly 400,000 square feet of contiguous office space plus ground floor retail that activates the surrounding streets.

Teamwork that unlocked an “impossible” site

This redevelopment demanded exceptional coordination among the owners, designers and the contractor working together to reinvent a building while protecting complex urban constraints.

WSP’s role in this teamwork-centric delivery entailed mechanical and electrical engineering and Built Ecology services, including LEED and WELL coordination, plus solar feasibility, energy modeling and daylight analysis. These efforts helped the project advance its performance and wellness aspirations even amid market uncertainty.

From concept through construction, the team aligned around a single goal: delivering a workplace that meets post COVID expectations while contributing to the vitality of the District with terraces, green space and a stronger pedestrian experience.

Square Feet

400,000

Existing Structure Reused

60%

Energy Savings

20%

Building up, not starting over

Rather than demolish and rebuild, the team pursued an ambitious repositioning that required major structural and systems interventions.

The project team selectively deconstructed the building to its structural frame, preserving approximately 60 percent of the existing structure while adding four new levels and a penthouse, along with entirely new building systems.

This adaptive reuse and overbuild approach delivered a high-performance workplace while significantly reducing embodied carbon and material waste. As the largest office development delivered in Washington, D.C. since COVID, the project demonstrates continued confidence in the future of the workplace, reimagined to prioritize flexibility, health and connection.

A healthier, high-performance workplace

The new 600 Fifth is designed to maximize natural light and access to fresh air, with a series of verdant, stepped terraces and a reframed façade that transforms a formerly fortress-like presence into an inviting, transparent workplace.

Sustainability and occupant wellness were central to the project’s vision. WSP’s MEP and Built Ecology teams led the design of a high-performance, all-electric building targeting LEED and WELL certification, supported by energy modeling, solar feasibility and daylight analysis. A carefully integrated rooftop design accommodates a 487 kW photovoltaic array, stormwater management and tenant amenities, advancing the District’s decarbonization goals while maximizing usable space. The building achieves approximately 20% energy savings, setting a new benchmark for sustainable commercial development in the region.

Inside and out, the building’s design supports modern tenant expectations — pairing state-of-the-art mechanical systems with generous exterior workspaces and a reimagined ground plane that includes a landscaped urban park and water feature, extending the project’s benefits beyond its walls.

A new benchmark for D.C. offices

600 Fifth delivers a rare combination of scale, sustainability ambition and public benefit: a full-block redevelopment that brings new retail, terraces and green space to a prominent civic location while setting a higher bar for workplace health and building performance.