Mather Studios
Located at 916 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 | Chinatown
There are few buildings that bring as many elements together as Mather Studios in Washington, DC’s Downtown area. It’s both old and new, with a historic façade and modern industrial chic interiors. The 10-story structure also serves multiple purposes with 54 condos, 12 artist spaces, a theatre, a dance studio, a gallery, and a coffee shop. Finally, the address is on the border of two vibrant urban neighborhoods, Chinatown and Penn Quarter.
The backstory for Mather Studios lies in a historic office building located in the Downtown Historic District. The property was abandoned in 1989 and fell into disuse and decay. Prolific developers PN Hoffman ultimately stepped in, partnering with Cunningham | Quill Architects and embarking on a lengthy restoration process that was completed in 2002. This densely populated area has seen a lot of residential redevelopment in recent years, including the Residences at Gallery Place, the Cosmopolitan, and 555 Mass.
More About Mather Studios, Washington, DC
Dating back to 1919, the Mather Building was originally used as offices and as a movie film storage facility. It was the first all-concrete structure in the city and the Gothic Revival design paid homage to the Mather Tower in Chicago. Jump ahead to the modern era, and the building’s new lease on life as Cunningham | Quill did painstaking research in order to restore the ornate terra cotta façade to its original glory. The condos themselves present a fascinating combination of old and new, with exposed brick walls and concrete ceilings, overhead ductwork, polished concrete floors, and giant windows. Floorplans range from one to three bedrooms, and some of the one-bedrooms also have dens. Many residences have loft layouts while others have elements that are inspired by warehouses or lofts, such as bedrooms with sliding barn doors. The kitchens are completely open to the living/dining areas, with black granite counters, modern wood cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances. Duplex penthouses with private rooftop decks are found at the top level.
Mather Studios offers commercial space at the street level, artists residences on the second and third floors, and condos from the fourth to the tenth level. Urban Roast with coffee and cocktails is currently one of the first floor tenants. Condo owners at the pet-friendly building also enjoy a staffed front desk with concierge service, and bike storage. Parking is available for some but not all units. The building close to two Metro stations—Metro Center, and Gallery Place-Chinatown. It is also quite close to museums, theaters, boutique retailers, and Capital One Arena with live concerts and NBA basketball. Bars and restaurants are all around, including The Smith, Café Riggs, Zaytinya by Jose Andres, Asia Nine, and others.
To learn more about condos for sale at Mather Studios, please call Andre Perez at District Partners at Compass, 202-400-3040.
Mather Studios, District of Columbia FAQs
Q: How did Mather Studios get its name?
A: The Mather Building was constructed in 1919 by Alonzo C. Mather, a builder of rail cars. The design was based on Mather Tower in Chicago. When the building was redeveloped in the 2000s, the original name was adjusted to reflect its new artists-related theme, hence Mather Studios.
Q: Where is the nearest Metrorail station if I don’t own a car?
A: The entrance to the Metro Center Station is about a block and a half west at the corner of G Street and 11th Street, while the Gallery Place-Chinatown Station is approximately the same distance but to the east at the corner of G and 9th.
Q: What is the very old-looking gray stone building next to Mather Studios?
A: That is St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Originally dating to 1794 at that location, it was rebuilt in its larger stone Gothic form during an extended period from 1804 to 1816.
Q: Are all the condos at Mather Studios real lofts?
A: No, some but not all have elevated loft spaces. You might sometimes see listings that mention loft-style or loft-inspired bedrooms or dens which doesn’t always mean that there are stairs leading up to them.
