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Watergate | Washington, DC Watergate | Washington, DC The Watergate complex is a group of five buildings next to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, DC. Development construction commenced on the first of three residential buildings in 1963. The 5th and final building (office) was completed in 1971. The Watergate Hotel and Office Building was made famous by the 1972 burglary that led to the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. The redeveloped Watergate Hotel opens this month after being closed since August 2007. Watergate Complex Washington, DC 5 Building Mixed-Use Complex Residential | Office | Retail | Parking 10 acre site __________________ Watergate East Residential | Completed 1965 Watergate Hotel & Office Building Two connected structures Office Building - 198,000 SF Completed 1967 Watergate South Residential | Completed 1968 Watergate West Residential | Completed 1969 Watergate Office Building Completed 1971 Project Announcement October 1960 Chief Architect Luigi Moretti | University of Rome Associate Architect Milton Fischer of DC based Corning, Moore, Elmore and Fischer Developer SGI (Italian firm) Site Description 10 Acres - Bordered by Virginia Ave (north), New Hampshire Ave (east), F ST (south) and Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (west) Residential Overview Three (3) Watergate apartment buildings total approximately 600 units HISTORY & NOTABLE FACTS For more than a century, the land now occupied by the Watergate buildings belonged to Washington Gas Light Company which produced manufactured gas for heating, cooking, and lighting throughout Washington, DC. Watergate’s curved structures were designed to emulate nearby natural features and developments include the Potomac River and the proposed Inner Loop Expressway. At the time, the proposed curvilinear design was very controversial and inconsistent with the architecture in Washington, DC. The Watergate development project was partially funded by the Vatican, approved by President John F. Kennedy. For many years Watergate was considered one of Washington DC’s most desirable residential areas and very popular with members of Congress. In 1972, the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee located on the 6th floor offices of the Watergate Hotel & Office Building was burglarized, documents were photographed, and telephones were wiretapped. The ensuing investigation determined high- level officials from the Nixon administration were directed in the break-in activities. The ensuing Watergate Scandal led to the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon on August 9, 1974. View looking southeast along the Potomac River towards the Washington Monument View of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts directly south and adjacent to the Watergate Complex Watergate Hotel & Office Building Watergate South 2600 Virginia Ave NW Residential Completed 1967 700 New Hampshire Ave NW Hotel structure is closer to the Potomac River Completed 1968 Watergate West Watergate East Watergate Office Building Residential Residential 600 New Hampshire Ave NW 2700 Virginia Ave NW 2500 Virginia Ave NW Completed 1971 Completed 1969 Completed 1965 Watergate Complex | Washington, DC - Foggy Bottom District .
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