BarnesVanze Architects Office Testimonial
Michael Patrick
Company: BarnesVanze Architects, an architecture firm that largely works on residential projects, in addition to some specialty, institutional, and religious work.
Role: Principal
Office address: 1000 Potomac St NW
Employees: 26
In Georgetown since: 1989, beginning at M and Wisconsin, above the former Nathans. We’ve been in four Georgetown locations over those years.
Why Georgetown?
Why did you choose Georgetown?
Being in a place that’s filled with lovely architecture that’s well done, and the urban scale – that’s all very meaningful to us. There’s that human scale that’s really important. That makes a great urban place. It doesn’t have a corporate feel . Our tagline is “beauty in authenticity in architecture.” We think the buildings in Georgetown really convey that. And it’s close to downtown DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
How do you and your employees get to work?
I drive from Alexandria and take the GW Parkway. A handful of our employees live within walking distance, others come from as far as Columbia, Md.
What are the most unexpected benefits of working in Georgetown?
In an urban place, you expect the unexpected. We have many of those moments here.
What are the benefits of your office space?
We like that the inside walls of the office space are natural brick. It really gives the character that we love.
How does the density of architecture firms in Georgetown shape your experience?
It’s a nice, confirming feeling. There are some really good architects around us.
Out-of-Office Favorites
Coffee Shop: Dog Tag Bakery and Grace Street Coffee
Lunch Spot: Kafe Leopold’s and Clyde’s. I also eat at Dog Tag Bakery a lot, and I love Chaia.
Happy Hour: We got to Leopold’s and Clyde’s a lot.
Walking Spot to Clear Your Head: I walk from our office across the Canal. I’ve always loved crossing a river to get to work. I even like that sense of crossing the Canal. I also love the Dumbarton Oaks area. It’s so beautiful walking around the grounds there.
