A Retail Village Rewriting the Rules of Development
March 14, 2025
Sycamore & Oak. All photos courtesy of Sycamore & Oak.
We’re going to kick off Ground Up Ideas with a deep dive into a fascinating, transformative real estate development — one that embodies the importance of creative direction and vision when building.
Sycamore & Oak is an economic and cultural game changer for Anacostia, in D.C., a marginalized and alienated neighborhood that is picking itself up by its bootstraps. It showcases an immense focus on community impact in design, activation, tenant curation, and activism. The space is managed by Congress Heights Training and Development Corporation, led by Tim White and Monica Ray, as well as LeGreg Harrison, founder of The Museum and Sycamore & Oak Retail Experience Manager.
S&O is a two phase project: The first phase, already up and running, is a 20,000 square foot retail village where “local, small businesses receive the support to thrive.” The second phase will include senior and workforce housing, an office building, and a hotel.
Three Creative Takeaways:
+ Brand and Design Meet Local Needs – S&O features beautiful design by David Adjaye that, integrally tied with its branding and naming, emphasizes the neighborhood’s natural treasures and the importance of nature for wellness.
+ Flex Food Operations – All food tenants are small, locally owned vendors with a shared kitchen. They are set up to succeed with programs like “Chefs-in-Residence,” that provides food and drink vendors with mentorship and operational guidance from the Jose Andres Group.
+ Hyperlocal Programming – Programming goes above and beyond with “Jazz in the Heights,” a five part concert series, slam poetry readings, “Redefining Afrofuturism” summit, and more.
MUST-READS
High Line designers Diller Scofidio + Renfro reflect on 40-year career // Bloomberg
Taisugar Circular Village rethinks sustainable community living // Metropolis
Wallpaper* April 2025 Global Interiors Issue: What’s inside // Wallpaper*
Report: Only 6% of Architects Use AI // Fast Company
Miami-Dade launches innovation challenge to divert waste // Smart Cities World
Material Bank expands with new digital catalog // Metropolis
Revolutionizing the future of design: Arcadis launches The Design Perspective // Arcadis
Romeo Roma by Zaha Hadid Architects opens in Rome // Wallpaper*
Dumbo’s creative class reshapes Brooklyn real estate // Fast Company
IDEA SPOTLIGHT
Matter Made
Matter Made is a New York-based design studio known for its stripped-back, sculptural furniture and lighting, often crafted in solid wood, metal, and stone. Collaborating with designers like Philippe Malouin and Faye Toogood, the brand focuses on timeless pieces that prioritize materiality and precision over trend-driven design.
INSTAGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Creative direction for the built world.
Ground Up is a new kind of creative studio for the built environment, informed by years of experience in real estate development, architecture, and branding. We’re here to partner with you on the strategy, branding, and design direction of your project.
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