Inspīr Embassy Row, Washington, D.C.: First Look
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Inspīr Embassy Row: The former Fairfax at Embassy Row hotel is being transformed into Inspīr Embassy Row, a modern, luxury senior living community, in Washington D.C.
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Inspīr Embassy Row: The Ember Lounge will be one of several community amenities housed on the first floor and will designed as an intimate gathering space with nods to the former Fairfax Hotel’s famed Jockey Club. Rich textiles, floor-to-ceiling bookcases, and an oversized white marble fireplace will create a warm environment.
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Inspīr Embassy Row: Flooded with natural light, residential units will feature large windows, fine millwork, and high-end finishes.
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Inspīr Embassy Row: Located on the eighth floor, the rooftop lounge will be a contemporary retreat that offers spectacular views of Washington D.C. As a historical property, Inspīr will be one of the only buildings on Embassy Row with a rooftop amenity.
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Inspīr Embassy Row: Residents will be transported to a Parisian café via the Garden Bistro, a refined casual dining option with a seasonal menu of health-focused fare.
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Inspīr Embassy Row: The Sanctuary at Inspīr Embassy Row will house a wellness floor dedicated to physical and mental well-being. Amenities will include a saltwater pool, fitness center, steam room, salt room, and sauna.
Inspīr Embassy Row, Washington, D.C.
The landmark Fairfax Hotel was built in 1924 as postwar officers’ housing and later renowned as a favored destination for politicians, diplomats, and celebrities in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, Inspir Senior Living, a Maplewood Senior Living brand, is renovating the building into Inspīr Embassy Row, a high-end senior living community in Washington, D.C.
Nestled between the upscale Kalorama neighborhood and the lively Dupont Circle neighborhood on Embassy Row, Inspīr Embassy Row will include assisted living and memory care units with studio and one- and two-bedroom options available.
Converting a hotel to senior living
Scheduled to open in December 2024, the $200 million, 215,000-square-foot community will be a gut renovation. A contemporary interior design aesthetic is designed to both contrast with and evoke the grandeur of the landmark exterior, such as recreating historic millwork details with a lighter, more modern finish.
Inside, luxurious fabrics and wallcoverings, rich color palettes, and ambient lighting will make each space feel homey and welcoming. High ceilings, archways, and historic details, such as an oversized marble fireplace, will add to the environment while supporting navigation throughout the community.
Adding wellness amenities
Two unique additions to the property will be a new wellness floor, The Sanctuary, and a rooftop lounge. The Sanctuary is being built where the former hotel’s parking garage once stood and will feature a suite of luxury amenities, including a saltwater pool, sauna, steam room, salon, and fitness center.
The rooftop lounge will sit on the eighth floor, where residents can gather and enjoy refreshments while overlooking the Washington D.C. skyline.
Throughout the renovation, Inspīr Senior Living and Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP (Washington, D.C.) took extra care to make the historic property one that is safe and functional for older adults today. This includes leveling floors in some areas and adding terraces to upper levels for secure access to the outdoors.
Prioritizing social connections
Social connections and wellness will be supported in the community by a variety of amenities, including multiple restaurant-style dining venues and flexible gathering spaces where residents can enjoy concerts, lectures, social functions, games, fitness, and arts and crafts.
Inspīr Embassy Row is the second Inspīr Senior Living community, an ultra-luxury senior living offering introduced by Maplewood Senior Living (Westport, Conn.) and Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (Hunt Valley, Md.). The first concept, the 23-story Inspīr Carnegie Hill, opened on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in 2021.
Inspīr Embassy Row project details
Location: Washington, D.C.
Completion date: December 2024
Owner: Omega Healthcare Investors Inc.
Developer: Maplewood Senior Living, LLC
Operator: Inspīr Embassy Row DC LLC
Total building area: 215,000 sq. ft.
Total development cost: $200 million
Cost/sq. ft.: Not disclosed
Architect: Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP (BBB)
Interior designer: BBB
Construction manager: Turner Construction Company
Engineers: Cosentini Associates (MEP), Silman Structural Solutions (structural)
Art consultant: Debbie Morton, Morton Contemporary
AV equipment/electronics/software: Enseo (integrated room automation / Carepredict (resident health and safety system) / SafelyYou (AI-enabled fall detection and prevention technology)
Ceiling/wall systems: Custom millwork from Beaubois
Doors/locks/hardware: Salto access control, Verkada security cameras
Furniture—seating/casegoods: George Smith
Lighting: Yellow Goat Designs
Wallcoverings: Koroseal, Foglizzo Acoustic Leather
Project details are provided by the design team and not vetted by Environments for Aging.
