1090 Vermont Avenue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1090 Vermont Avenue |
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| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 1090 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Completed | 1980 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | The John Akridge Companies |
| Developer | The John Akridge Companies |
1090 Vermont Avenue NW is a tall, modern office building in Washington, D.C.. It is one of the tallest commercial buildings in the city. As of 2010, it was tied for the fourth-tallest. The building stands 187 feet (57 meters) high and has 12 floors. When it first opened, it had about 160,000 square feet (14,880 square meters) of space. Over time, the inside space was changed and grew to 187,000 square feet (17,391 square meters) by 2006.
Contents
Building a New Landmark
This section explains how the building was planned and built.
Getting the Land Ready
Before the building could be constructed, the land needed to be cleared. The spot where 1090 Vermont Avenue NW now stands was once home to several small buildings. There was also a large outdoor parking lot. This area covered about 14,927 square feet (1,388 square meters).
In January 1979, a company called The John Akridge Companies bought this land. They paid about $200 for each square foot. After buying the land, the old buildings and the parking lot were removed. Construction of the new office building started in the spring of 1979.
Who Built and Paid for It?
The John Akridge Companies not only bought the land but also designed and built the entire structure. They worked with another company to pay for the project. This partner was Mitsui Fudosan America. This company is the U.S. branch of a very large real estate company from Japan called Mitsui Fudosan. Together, they made sure the building had the money it needed to be finished.
When It Was Finished
Most of the building was completed in 1979. Even though it was still being worked on in April 1980, many businesses were already interested in renting space. About 90 percent of the building's offices were rented out before it was even fully finished. The inside construction was completed later in 1980. Some people have described the building's design as "perfectly bland," meaning it was simple and not flashy.
Impact on the City
This building helped change the area around it.
Helping Vermont Avenue Grow
1090 Vermont Avenue NW was one of five new buildings constructed in the late 1970s. These new buildings helped to make Vermont Avenue NW a more lively and modern area. Before this, most new office buildings were built west of 15th Street NW. The construction of these buildings showed a new trend. It was the first time since the early 1970s that new office buildings started to be built east of 15th Street NW. For many years in the 1980s, the building was managed by a company called JMB Realty.
Upgrades and New Owners
The building has been updated over the years. In 1995, the main lobby, shared areas, and elevators were all improved. In 1998, The John Akridge Companies got a large loan of $21 million. This money came from HypoVereinsbank, a German investment bank. They used this money to help pay for their part of the building.
Later, in April 2007, Mitsui Fudosan America bought Akridge's share of the building. They paid $57 million for it. This made Mitsui Fudosan America the full owner of 1090 Vermont Avenue NW.
Art Near the Building
Across the street from 1090 Vermont Avenue NW, there is a large and interesting piece of art. It is a 30-foot (9.15 meters) tall steel sculpture. The sculpture is called "Sky Landscape." It was created by a famous artist named Louise Nevelson. This artwork cost $640,000 and was officially presented in March 1983.
