Washington, DC — December 13, 2019 — CallisonRTKL, the global retail architecture and design practice, announces that the Georgetown location of the Capital One Café opened earlier this autumn, creating a new landmark in one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods.
The 38th Capital One Café (and the second in the nation’s capital), the Georgetown location celebrates its context—restored flooring and exposed brick give the space a comfortable, residential atmosphere that feels more like a tony coffeehouse, which it partly is. Capital One partnered with Peet’s Coffee to operate a shop featuring goodies from Baked & Wired, Bullfrog Bagels and Good Company Doughnuts– all local favorites.
“We partnered with the Capital One team to develop a design to fit within the neighborhood,” says Lucy Baraquio, CallisonRTKL’s vice president in charge of the project. “Together, we did a deep analysis of local character and vernacular to make sure we had the scale and tone exactly right.”
Located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Wisconsin and M Streets NW, the historic building is ideal as a brand flagship and well-known to Washingtonians. It was once the location of the famous Nathan’s restaurant, a staple among the city’s powerbrokers for some 40 years. Maintaining that sense of history was important to the neighborhood.
“Keeping true to the charm and legacy of Georgetown, we knew it was critical to not only conserve the historical integrity but enhance it through thoughtful design,” said Elena Limbert, Senior Director, Design, Capital One. “Integrating the past and embracing the future is a balancing act and this Café merges the best of both worlds to truly encapsulate the local flavor of the neighborhood.”
With all Capital One Cafés, the design teams work with local artisans to source some of the more distinct pieces and fixtures used throughout the spaces. The goal is to create an environment for customers to feel comfortable entering, lingering and connecting.
“It’s this community connection that truly differentiates Capital One,” says Baraquio. “They really understand the importance of making a new generation of consumers comfortable with all things financial, and the cafés are an incredibly creative way of introducing their services to a younger, tech-savvy and sophisticated consumer.”
The Café also serves as a free co-working space, outfitted with desks, sofas, private nooks, meeting rooms and a conference table with a monitor and screen projector—and, of course, free Wi-Fi, as well as electrical outlets all around for charging devices. Open, smartly-lit stairways connect the floors.
It’s a new model that feels fresh, vibrant and current. It also creates a relaxed, low-pressure atmosphere that allows Capital One “ambassadors” to develop deeper relationships with their customers and the community.
About CallisonRTKL
CallisonRTKL is a global architecture, planning and design practice. Over the last 70 years, we have created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. Our work has set us apart as the number one retail design firm in the world and a top-five architecture practice across multiple disciplines and sectors. Under the Arcadis umbrella, we continue to expand our sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of our resources. Our team of nearly 1,500 professionals around the world is committed to advancing our clients’ businesses and enhancing quality of life. callisonrtkl.com
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