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Here’s why so many architects are located in Georgetown

And why the neighborhood became the “Georgetown’s Design District”

By Adele Chapin
Georgetown during its annual Georgetown Glow light art festival
Georgetown, DC/Facebook

Ever wonder why so many top architects call Georgetown home (like HOK, Shalom Baranes Associates, and Hickok Cole)? Bisnow just investigated why it is exactly that is — by the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s count, 34 architecture and design firms were based in the neighborhood in 2017.

As you might’ve guessed, those charming historic homes definitely are part of the appeal for architects. But Eastbanc founder Anthony Lanier played a huge part in making Georgetown a design district. Lanier not only pioneered development Cady’s Alley with its Euro-centric retailers, he also made a personal rule to only use Georgetown-based architects when redeveloping old buildings.

“What Anthony did is he created a whole urban fabric around design,” architect Travis Price told Bisnow. “He kept turning down lots of tenants at great expense to him to essentially make a theme here to make it a place to be. A big part of my move was just being around my fellow designers and architects.” Read the rest of the fascinating story for design buffs here.