Apartments, Washington DC

Wilbur J Cohen Federal Building, Washington DC

Originally built as the Social Security Board Building in 1939 (designed by Louis A Simon, Supervising Architect and Charfles Z Klauder, Consulting Architect) this large Federal building in Washington DC went through a series of name changes as various health-related departments became tenants until 1988 when the building was named in honour of the first professional employee of the Social Security Board and the former Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW), Wilbur J Cohen.

The four main entrances bear reliefs related to some aspect of Social Security.

The north entrance (above) has "The Growth of Social Security" by Henry Kreis while the relief at the east entrance is "The Benefits of Social Security", also by Kreis.

The remaining two entrances have reliefs by Emma Lu Davis. "Family Group" at the south entrance and "Unemployment Compensation" (above) at the west entrance.

1875 K Street, Washington DC

So what do you think? 1875 K Street in Washington DC was designed by Hartman-Cox Architects but it isn't a deco building. It wasn't even built in the 20th C. Construction began in 2000 but it certainly harks back to an earlier time.

Reference:
1875 K Street, Emporis.com

District Tacos, Washington DC

Possibly the most beautiful Taco restaurant in the world!

Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington DC

The Atlas Theater was originally built in 1938 and opened with the film "Love Finds Andy Hardy" starring Mickey Rooney.

By the late 1960s, the theatre was starting to struggle as nearby residents and businesses abandoned the city from suburban life. Many buildings along H Street NE and the surrounding area were destroyed by fire during the riots that followed the assignation of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968. The Atlas survived but finally closed in 1976.

The district fell in decline over the next couple of decades becoming a haven for drug users. Crime was rife.

The Atlas Performing Arts Center purchased the boarded up, graffiti riddled theater in 2001 with the aim to create an arts center. The city got on board in 2003 with the establishment of the H Street Overlay defining an Arts and Entertainment district centred around the Atlas.

The Atlas has served as a catalyst for the rejuvenation of H Street NE and the Joy of Motion Dance Center opened a three-studio location within the Atlas Performing Arts Center in March 2005 further enhancing the facilities of the area.

References:
Atlas Performing Arts Center website
Joy of Motion Dance Center website

Urban Outfitters, Georgetown

I didn't expect to find any Art Deco in Georgetown since it is one of the oldest and most prestigious areas in Washington DC. Yet here it is, right in the middle of M Street and currently occupied by Urban Outfitters.