First Tenant Signed for Wonder Bread Factory in Shaw

641 S Street, NW

From Douglas Development:

Douglas Development is pleased to announce that WorkSpaces LLC, a strategic furniture solutions consulting agency, has leased 20,817 square feet in the historic Wonder Bread Factory at 641 S Street, NW. WorkSpaces LLC will be the redeveloped property’s first tenant since the building closed in 1988.

WorkSpaces LLC will occupy the entire third floor of the District landmark and is expected to move in immediately following completion of construction. Douglas Development anticipates construction to be completed in January 2013.

In addition to upper-level loft-like office space with industrial-style skylights, the redeveloped building, with a total of 98,000 square feet will offer 24,000 square feet of retail space. Office floor plates range in size from 12,000-22,000 square feet. Ceiling heights range from 11-12 feet. The building will also boast outdoor terrace space, lower level parking, and a combination of exposed brick walls and floor-to-ceiling glass on all four sides. The exterior design, approved by the Historic Preservation Review Board, features a colorful, contemporary new addition of glass and metal panels to complement the restored brick of the historic building.

The 641 S Street property was initially home to Dorsch’s White Cross Bakery in the early 1900s and then later purchased by Continental Baking Company in 1936, becoming the primary factory for Wonder Bread and Hostess Cake products. The building shut down in 1988 when Continental Baking moved to a larger facility in Philadelphia, and was purchased by Douglas Development in 1997.

You can see renderings of the space here:

641 S St – Renderings

Here’s what a reader saw inside the building back in 2009.