A Unique Historic Renovation in Georgetown
The Unique Nature of the Property
Because it was constructed over a century ago, the building stands as one of the few residential properties along the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath. The clients, a young couple, aimed to convert the mixed-use building—housing a hair salon on the ground floor and residential units above—into a fully residential property while preserving its historic charm.
Historic and Regulatory Challenges
The property falls under the jurisdiction of both the Georgetown Historic Board and the Federal Commission of Fine Arts, which added layers of regulatory complexity. These entities enforce strict guidelines to ensure the preservation of historic elements, which significantly influenced the scope and approach of the renovation.
The Need for Accurate As-Built Plans
The project was led by Douglas Crawford, an award-winning architect recognized for his regionally relevant and site-specific residential designs. Douglas Crawford took on this project due to its unique nature and prime location along the historic C&O Canal.
Douglas Crawford emphasized the importance of accurate As-Built plans for this project. He noted that the building’s skewed geometry and historical elements, such as exposed beams, required meticulous building documentation to ensure accurate planning and preservation. By utilizing Revit for this documentation, Crawford could integrate the building’s unique features into the renovation plans seamlessly.
While Crawford anticipated some irregularities due to the building’s age, the As-Built plans revealed a layout that was significantly more non-orthogonal than expected. This insight was crucial for planning interior renovations, especially in areas where precise measurements are essential, such as the kitchen and other functional spaces.
As-Built Scope of Work
- Revit Model
- Floor Plan
- Roof Plan
- Exterior Elevations
- Still Photos
Project Management Insights
Justin Yotter, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at PPM, was the project manager for this project. From the onset, Justin recognized the unique character of the property on Canal Street in Georgetown. The weathered brick, exposed beams, and unique ceiling elements made it a fascinating project.
Justin emphasized that working with Douglas and on unique and historic projects like this one is always rewarding, regardless of their size or significance. PPM enjoys working on historic and unique row houses throughout the city, and this property was no exception.
Surveyor Insights
Our surveyor, Ryan Yetter, enjoyed the experience of working in such a historically rich area, bringing new life to an old building.
Rowhouses often present challenges in capturing data on roofs or accessing all exterior surfaces. With this property, one notable challenge was that only two of the three exterior walls were accessible from the ground, necessitating creative ladder placement to achieve adequate data coverage. To ensure thorough documentation, Ryan employed additional strategies, such as accessing windows and searching for alleyways. The Horizon scanner was used for this project due to its extended range, which allowed seamless capture of façade information from the ground level.
Ryan enjoyed surveying this property because of its bohemian character and unique three-story studio layout. The opportunity to work on a property that he could imagine living in added an extra layer of satisfaction to the job.
Drafting and Modeling to the Architect's Satisfaction
Douglas requested we use his Revit template, which is a common request we satisfy for our clients across the board. This allows architects like Douglas to immediately begin designing upon receiving their deliverables.
No two perpendicular walls existed in the building, a common occurrence in older buildings. Once our production team member began drafting and modeling, he immediately identified the non-orthogonal layout of the walls and reached out to the surveyor to confirm the details. He was careful to adhere to PPM’s standard of no more than a two-inch deviation over ten feet for orthogonal adjustment. He consulted Douglas to determine which wall to show orthogonal on the plans relative to the page.
Mutual Partnership
Douglas Crawford has been collaborating with PPM for over six years, relying on our expertise in As-Built documentation for all his projects. He appreciates the accuracy and efficiency of our laser scanning services, which save time and ensure reliable data for his designs.
"I've been working with PPM since 2018, and I have nothing but great things to say. Since doing my first project with PPM, I require all my projects to be fully laser scanned and modeled by them because I know I can trust their As-Built content and it saves my clients time."
Douglas Crawford, Architect at Douglas Crawford Architect
As-Built Plans Support Historic Transformations
This project in Georgetown highlights the importance of precise As-Built documentation in historic renovations. We at PPM are incredibly proud to have partnered with Douglas Crawford, an architect whose commitment to preserving the historical and architectural integrity of his projects aligns perfectly with our own values. Working with Douglas allowed us to contribute to the conservation of a unique piece of Georgetown’s architectural heritage, and we look forward to assisting him with more remarkable projects.
Douglas’ dedication to capturing the authentic essence of historical buildings, combined with his innovative use of modern technology, exemplifies the best in contemporary architectural practice. To learn more about Douglas Crawford and his work, visit his website at www.douglas-crawford.com.
