White House Historical Association, The People’s House: A White House Experience
Project Type: Headquarters Relocation, Build-Out
Space Use: Museum, Retail, Event, Office
Location: Washington, D.C.
Project Size: 33,000 SF
Services Provided: Tenant Representation, Entitlements, Construction Project Management, Operations Planning
The White House Historical Association (“WHHA”) is a private, nonprofit founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with a mission to protect, preserve and provide public access to the rich history of America’s Executive Mansion. WHHA continues its mission today through acquisition, preservation, research, and education, supported by generous private donations and the sale of its books and products such as the Official White House Ornament.
WHHA engaged JM Zell to develop a real estate strategy and implementation plan aligned with its recent strategic planning initiatives to create a modern, technology-driven, experiential visitor center and flagship retail experience. With the assistance of JM Zell, WHHA began the engagement by establishing project-level guiding principles, which included locating the new facility in proximity to the White House grounds, maximizing public exposure and access through the ground floor entrance and clearly visible exterior building signage, enhancing the visitor experience through state-of-the-art technology, education and conference center, and administration offices and support spaces.
Armed with a board approved strategy, JM Zell provided an in-depth market analysis to WHHA senior leadership, outlining key market statistics and an overview of specific available spaces that could potentially meet WHHA’s goals. As WHHA engaged JM Zell for its full breadth of real estate services, JM Zell was able to evaluate the financial, legal, physical, and operational implications of various options for WHHA’s long-term occupancy for both lease and purchase.
After considering a host of options, WHHA’s senior leadership reached a consensus to pursue a long-term lease at The Mills Building, located at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, approximately 250 yards from the White House.
JM Zell successfully negotiated a 17-year lease with renewal options for approximately 33,000 square feet of space, spanning the first three floors of the building with ground floor access and trophy exterior building signage on the corner closest to the White House.
WHHA’s specialized space use required securing Board of Zoning Adjustment approvals for the conversion of office and retail to cultural/museum occupancy. JM Zell successfully navigated the application, hearing and approval processes with WHHA zoning counsel and building ownership.
WHHA set an opening date for early September 2024 and JM Zell orchestrated an accelerated design and construction action plan to meet the client objectives.
During the lease negotiations, JM Zell transitioned the project from a transaction phase to project management scope. JM Zell led WHHA through a comprehensive competitive solicitation, selection and contract negotiations for design and engineering firms for the interior office, education and conference center and visitor center experience spaces.
During the design phase, JM Zell competitively bid the general contractor services for early onboarding to manage project long lead procurement, cost, and schedule.
To maximize visitor experience and flow, the final design required a series of base building modifications including three slab penetrations for an elevator and staircases, curtainwall façade changes to enhance main entrance curb appeal and electrical service equipment upgrades. Interior shell, education, and office construction commenced in January 2024 and was completed on time for the ceremonial opening on the White House South Lawn by First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, on September 21, 2024.
Based on JM Zell’s past experience with museum and cultural centers, WHHA asked JM Zell to support the operations planning with staffing plans, Year 1 operating budget, signage and wayfinding, procurement of security systems, guard and janitorial services for opening readiness.
Unique features of the buildout include a trophy 2,500 sf ground-floor retail history store; multiple innovative exhibition areas featuring immersive interactive experiences of the White House rooms; a full-scale Oval Office reproduction; reproductions of a State Dinner, Cabinet Meetings, the Rose Garden and Colonnade; a 150-person lecture hall; classrooms; and modern back-of-house office and administration spaces. The interactive exhibit, The People House: A White House Experience, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
By leveraging JM Zell’s expertise at every stage of the project, WHHA was able to efficiently reach consensus and execute its ideal strategic vision.
If you are interested in learning more about how JM Zell can assist you in achieving your business and operations goals through real estate, please contact us here.