For the AIA headquarters renewal project, frit patterning across the façade plays a crucial role in shaping the building’s visual identity and enhances the sensory and biophilic experience of dappled light and shading. The new external plaza-facing sunshade system contains 302 photovoltaic panels with applied frit that addresses the glare and solar heat gain into the workspaces. The street-facing frit spans five levels of the building’s façade and is applied directly to the glass. The graphic expression of the frit creates a sense of movement and time while maximizing thermal comfort and energy production.
The pattern drew inspiration from Washington, D.C.’s rich history and unique elements, including dappled light from the abundant tree canopy and Brutalist architecture. The Architects Collaborative (TAC) were the original architects of the AIA Headquarters. TAC’s initial plans for triangular waffle slabs and stairwells used the geometries of the site to organize the building and served as inspiration for the patterning logic of the frit. The movement of the sun across the building was another major design driver: by tracing the path of the sun’s rays across the building, the pattern brings the Brutalist structure in tune with its context, while creating a welcoming, sweeping gesture toward the site.
This contribution reflects on the iterative design process for these patterns, the inspiration behind them, and the architectural challenges posed by this iconic 1973 Brutalist structure. Design solutions will be discussed to show how the frit glass patterning contributes to a façade that is both high-performing and deeply experiential.
