International Square Wins Best of Design Award from The Architect’s Newspaper

The Architect’s Newspaper has recognized International Square with a 2025 Best of Design Award in the Building Renovation – Hospitality category. The jury highlighted the project’s thoughtful transformation of a downtown Washington, D.C. complex into a renewed public realm anchored by daylight, landscape, and connection.

Anchored by a D.C. Metro stop at the corner of International Square, the new food market serves as a vibrant extension of the urban streetscape. Along 19th Street, the ground floor façade features large, awning-style glazed overhead doors that open the building to the neighborhood, creating a porous edge and offering clear sightlines into the 12-story atrium; a cultural hub activated by food vendors and event space. At the heart of the project is a vibrant collection of food stalls. To support these vendors, the design incorporates a custom-made plywood peg-board system, inspired by Julia Child’s kitchen—a space that is both functional and individualized to users needs.