Congratulations to designers Nicole Hinkle and Blake Hoffman on being selected by Washingtonian Magazine for their “Coronavirus Design Challenge;” selected projects are featured in the August 2020 issue. The magazine’s editor asked design firms from across the region to present design solutions for Washington, DC to help navigate the challenges of the pandemic—now and in the future. Nicole and Blake proposed a series of urban “living rooms” dotting Dupont Circle to enable residents to safely gather with friends and family. The carbon fiber pods have both functional and safety features, contributing to physical and mental well-being.

“As architects and planners, we understand that we have a role in helping residents reclaim a sense of control in the public realm by structuring experiences to safely gather and utilize our public spaces. Starting at the macro level, we examined points of social concentration along the radials of L’Enfant’s plan."

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