District Architecture Gallery To Showcase Penn Quarter

Surely you've passed the Independent Order of Odd Fellows building on 7th Street and wondered: who are these odd fellows, exactly?

According to the IOOF website: the "family of Oddfellowship" is "composed of Men, Women, and Youth, believing in a supreme being, the creator and preserver of the universe, ...and that Friendship, Love and Truth are the basic guidelines that we need to follow in our daily lives."  The worldwide fraternity is in 26 countries and is "striving to make the world a better place in which to live, seeking To Improve and Elevate the Character of Mankind."

If you want to know more about the IOOF and about the architectural shaping of Penn Quarter, the District Architecture Gallery opens an exhibition today exploring the "life and times of the Odd Fellows Temple Building," the historic home of Washington DC's IOOF and new home to the AIA|DC and the Washington Architectural Foundation.

"The exhibition will spotlight the I.O.O.F.'s Temple's architectural significance and highlight some of the building's recognized occupants who have helped shape the now-called Penn Quarter neighborhood during the last ninety-five years.  Illustrated by historical images and data, visitors will experience the historic building through a contemporary lens that reveals both the past and present in a unique and fun manner giving recognition to the new home of the District Architecture Center."

While you're at it, join the District Architecture Center for a walking tour of Penn Quarter on Saturday, January 28th at 10am:

"The tour of 'Washington's Oldest New Neighborhood' will begin at the Navy Memorial (701 Pennsylvania Ave NW) and end at the new District Architecture Center (421 7th Street).  

"Highlights of the tour will include the renovated Kogod Courtyard at the Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, which Conde Nast Traveler named as one of the seven architectural wonders; the plans for the new CityCenter a new 2.5 million sq. ft. mixed-use development; and the construction of the Convention Center Hotel, a 1,175-room Marriott Marquis." 

The tour costs $10.