T-2 Days to REI – Check Out the Ridiculously Awesome Conversion from Parking Garage to REI Flagship Store at the Uline Arena

2nd, Delaware and M Street, NE

We’ve been paying modest attention to the new Flagship REI coming to NoMa. Well it almost here so I thought it was time to pay proper attention. Let’s just get it out of the way – the space is SICK. Absolutely sick. Dope. Dope sky. Mint. Fresh. And definitely funky fresh. While I took a million pictures this is a good example of a place you really got to see in person to fully appreciate the transformation. Let’s not forget what the space looked like before (after its heyday):

And now it is simply a jaw dropper. I took a tour of the 50,000+ square foot space and here’s a taste:

All the details on the opening festivities here.

Approximately a million more photos after the jump.

From an email:

“CallisonRTKL’s historic renovation of the Uline Arena in NoMa has unearthed fascinating artifacts from its storied past.

The design of the REI Uline flagship highlights the grandeur of the original architecture, celebrating what the structure once was and its significance to the community. Here are three historic elements from the building to look for:

• Barrel Vault Rib and Column
  Customers can see an original barrel vault rib and column in REI’s internal courtyard. REI went to great lengths to excavate the space and bring the outdoors inside. Look up to see some of the original paint.
• Concrete Foundation Blocks
  Because the space didn’t provide the height that REI needed to sell such items as kayaks and canoes, the floor was excavated down five feet. The excavation unearthed the original concrete foundation blocks, exposing a rich history and adding to the architectural character of the space. You can find these foundations blocks along Delaware Avenue perimeter of the store.
• Basketball Court Flooring and Arena Seating
  The original basketball court flooring from the arena was reused as wall cladding and wraps around the Adventure Station. Affixed to one of these walls are rows of original wood seating, also salvaged from the arena.

CallisonRTKL was responsible for the architecture, interior design and historic renovation for the new REI flagship.”

Updated clarification from an email: “The base building architect responsible for the Historic Preservation and Architecture of the Uline Arena was actually Antunovich Associates who works with Douglas Development on several projects. The Interior design of the flagship REI store was CallisonRTKL.”

Adventure Station to be staffed (7 days a week) by a National Parks Service employee who can answer all your questions and give suggestions about local hikes etc.

Oh yeah there’s a La Colombe too:

Note all the bike racks (more outside frame of photo):

From MPD:

“The following street closures are from approximately 8:00 am to 12:00 pm:

Delaware Avenue, NE, between L Street, NE and M Street, NE”