Case Study: Duke Ellington School of the Arts achieves historic preservation and LEED Gold sustainability with Graphisoft Archicad

Duke Ellington School of the Arts - Customer Case Study

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a public arts school in Washington, D.C., needed to modernize its aging 1890s-era building into a 21st-century 600-student facility while preserving its historic character. To help win the project and manage its complexity, the school worked with Graphisoft’s Archicad through architect cox graae + spack, using BIM to develop a design that balanced historic preservation, sustainability, and a tight construction schedule.

Graphisoft’s Archicad enabled the team to test hundreds of ideas in a detailed BIM model, collaborate across disciplines, and produce accurate 3D visuals and BIMx tours for coordination. The result was a 265,000-square-foot renovated and new facility completed in 2017, LEED Gold certification, multiple awards, and a design so clearly communicated that it earned special recognition from the City of D.C.

Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Ronald Jones

Director of Operations