Sears & Roebuck Washington, D. C.
- Year Built: 1940
- Architect: John Stokes Redden
- Built By: Sears, Roebuck & Co.
The Sears building is an example of the Art Deco commercial architectural style.
It was designed with parking specifically in mind and the roof-deck parking was an innovative idea.
A decade of research into the impact of the car on consumer buying patterns contributed to the store’s design.
Other new features included air conditioning and poured-concrete construction.
This and other stores built by Sears in the late 1930s focused on the essential functional requirements for retail success.
The celebration of the distinguishing architectural features and use of the original building while adding new residential space above makes this building an excellent example of adaptive reuse.
