GSA awards lease for recently restored Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium

October 27, 2023

WASHINGTON –  On Oct. 20, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a lease to Ridgewells Inc. to be the newest tenant and exclusive venue manager at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. 

Since its dedication in 1935, the Mellon Auditorium has been the setting for numerous historical events including the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty which established NATO. More recently, the building has been used for an array of functions like concerts and weddings and has served as the set for several movies and television shows including “The West Wing,” “Transformers,” and “Top Chef.” The previous tenant hosted over 100 events per year in the auditorium. 

The lease includes approximately 22,300 square feet of space. The Mellon Auditorium’s Large Meeting Room recently went through its first comprehensive restoration in its 85 year history. The work included the repair, honing and polishing of the marble wall panels; the cleaning, repair and re-gilding of its Dutch metal ornamental finishes; the regrouting of its mortar joints; the replacement of its White Oak strip flooring; and the restoration of the auditorium’s doors, among many other updates.

“We are excited to reopen the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium after an 18-month hiatus for renovations,” said Elliot Doomes, the Public Buildings Service Commissioner for GSA. “This lease, like many others in the National Capital Region, is a prime example of ways GSA continues to optimize its portfolio and utilize space in creative ways to benefit the government and the American taxpayer.”

GSA’s authority under the Historic Preservation Act allowed its Outleasing Program to use an innovative federal agency model for the effective and sustainable use of this historic building. This nationwide program allowed the Public Buildings Service’s National Capital Region to restore the space and lease the auditorium to Ridgewells. Ridgewells Inc. will hold the lease at the Mellon auditorium for 5 years with a 5 year mutual option. This space can be rented by both government entities and private citizens. Learn more about renting out the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium for a future event by visiting GSA’s Meeting and Event Space site.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing about $87 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

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