Image courtesy of the Old Naval Hospital Foundation
Things are well underway at the Hill Center, especially underground. The restored Old Naval Hospital, scheduled to open next June and offer cultural, educational and civic programs to the community, will be heated and cooled by a geothermal system, and this week there’s a drilling rig on site digging 30 wells that are 350 feet deep.
Nicky Cymrot, president of the Old Naval Hospital Foundation, said the decision to install a geothermal system, to the tune of $875,000, was an expensive one, but just one of many steps that are being taken to ensure costs to maintain and run the center’s building and programs are as low as possible for the generations to come. The foundation has a long-term lease from the city for the building and they’re planning for the long haul. “Also, since we’re only 9 blocks from the Capitol, we wanted to set an example with use of resources,” she said.
There are dramatic things happening inside too, including removal of years of paint and trim stripped away, replacing miles of ad hoc wiring, tearing down temporary walls and beginning construction on the multi-use classrooms, workshops, offices and event space. Plans are under way now to develop programs that appeal to a cross-section of the community.
Ad hoc committees of community members are forming to make sure the center offers classes and workshops that appeal to a variety of individuals. The center will contract with existing program providers like the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, the Levine School of Music or L’Academie de Cuisine, or Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Cymrot says partnering with seasoned, experienced vendors with proven track records is key because, “we want to want to be sure what we bring (to the center) is excellent. We’re going to do our best to have a very rich and interesting mix of things going on.”
The renovated space features 11 program rooms, some that will be perfect for small groups and seminars, while others are designed for community meetings, such as the monthly ANC 6B meeting which will resume there next summer. Each room is being planned for mixed-use and the hope is the building will be bustling with activity all hours of the day. An art studio, computer lab and a large demonstration kitchen for cooking and nutrition courses will make the most of the high ceilings and grand windows. Several non-profits will rent office space on the top floor, and meeting space and conference space will be available for rent.
Income from renting event space will also be key to the center’s sustainability. Foundation members have been consulting with event planners to make sure the space is appealing to a variety of hosts, so expect to see everything from fundraisers, to anniversary parties to corporate retreats making the most of the gardens, halls and conference rooms. The extensive gardens surrounding the building, designed by 8th Street firm Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, have been laid out in such a way to accommodate a tent; let’s hope a dance floor is also an option. There will also be a café in the carriage house on the west side of the property that will offer a family-friendly and healthy spot for breakfast and lunch.
With this flurry of activity and planning, it’s a good thing the search for an executive director for the organization is nearing an end; the application pool closes September 15. The board has already received more than 48 applications and Cymrot says they look forward hiring the person who’s the perfect blend of business acumen, creativity, and civic energy by the end of October. Top on the new director’s to do list will be forwarding the capital campaign efforts and finding underwriters for the rooms, gardens and fence pieces.
