The Gladstone and The Hawarden

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Built between 1900 and 1901, these twin buildings were the first of their kind and are responsible for a major shift in how apartment buildings in the city were constructed. D.C. native George S. Cooper, who designed the two buildings in a Renaissance Revival style, decided to use duplicate designs during construction rather than create two unique buildings — which was a new approach in Washington. This innovation was a more efficient and economical way to spend money on the construction of middle class apartment buildings.

At the turn of the century, the Gladstone and Hawarden were among the first wave of buildings constructed with a conventional mid-rise design meant to house the growing middle-class population. While residents still hesitated towards aparment living as socially acceptable, these apartments provided a more economical option for those who needed housing but could not obtain single-family homes. While it took some years before D.C. residents fully accepted apartment living as socially acceptable, these buildings were responsible for allowing more people access to the city and convenience while working nearby.

DC Inventory: January 17, 1990
National Register: September 7, 1994
Within Fourteenth Street Historic District

This site is included on the D.C. Apartment Buildings tour as an example of a Conventional Mid-Rise apartment building.