New Kids On The Block: Vibrant D.C. Neighborhood To Welcome Design Showroom

At Washington, D.C.'s Union Market District, visitors experience a unique and dynamic mixed‑use destination. Creativity and discovery are woven throughout local and national retail options, cultural experiences and a packed calendar of community events.

Edens, the owner and developer of Union Market District, is partnering with interior design and commercial furniture vendor The Forum on opening a showroom in the neighborhood to help meet the design needs of the region’s office landlords, tenants and other prospective buyers. A portion of the space will be The Forum’s office, which the firm is set to occupy in November.

Edens CEO Jodie McLean referred to Union Market District as a premiere destination for food and culture and a community where people come not just to visit but to connect, be inspired and belong.

Partnering with The Forum is a next step in this evolution, she said.

“We’re continuing to expand this neighborhood into a true hub for design and bringing together the people shaping how we experience space, beauty and community in our everyday lives,” she said.

The Forum principal Tad Burns said Union Market District’s vibrant setting and design-forward vision align with the firm’s creative approach to interiors. Its new showroom will enable the company to be part of the neighborhood's creative community and showcase its wide-ranging office design skills. 

“We provide a range of design services and will be based in a welcoming and trend-setting neighborhood among art shows and Michelin-star restaurants — plus a wide range of businesses,” he said. “The location reflects our uniqueness.”

The Forum’s office designs range from corporate to casual, and the firm tailors its approach based on a client’s budget and vision.

Burns said The Forum’s clients are facing several challenges, including tariffs, shifting prices and fast-approaching move-in dates. As an open-line, design-focused firm, The Forum is prepared to meet these challenges.

The firm’s process revolves around strong communication, providing clients with several design options for their spaces and delivering realistic outputs, said The Forum partner Justin DeClerville. 

“A key aspect of design is listening to what clients say and understanding what they want, even if they can’t envision it themselves,” said The Forum principal and lead designer Leslie Lofgren. “Communicating and working together is important to making sure the space looks functional and aesthetically pleasing.”

Lofgren said she wants the Union Market District showroom to look “funkier” than typical showrooms. One goal is to show people they shouldn’t be afraid to embrace color, pattern and texture.

The space will feature a lobby with a reception and seating area and incorporate art from local artists throughout. 

The design showroom is meant to show what a full office will look like, Burns said. Customers will see private offices, glass-walled board rooms, conference rooms, collaboration areas, phone booths, pantry and reception area furniture, and soft seating. It will also include a finish library where buyers can select fabrics and finishes for products.

The prices for the products range from affordable to mid-range to high-end, and the showroom features products with different lead times.

The space will also have a section called the 30-day office, which will display office designs and products that have a lead time of 30 days or less — something that would be ideal for landlords looking to build out spec suites, Burns said. The Forum’s staff will also utilize a section of this area for their operations.

Lofgren said buyers can expect to see different colors, textures and materials as well as architectural aspects like wall finishings and ceiling decorations. They will also encounter products from different manufacturers that may not be found in other showrooms in the region.

The unique design and layout of The Forum's new showroom is a strategic business decision, DeClerville said. The team wants to display its design savvy but in a budget-conscious way that appeals to their clients to show them that they, too, can have an office environment their employees want to spend time in without breaking the bank. 

“We want to show clients that we’re in the same boat as them: We care about the process of money and time investment,” Burns said. “We want to create beautiful spaces and spend money the right way. We want to share our process with clients through the showroom so that they can see what they’re getting when they work with us.”

DeClerville said that, through the showroom, the team is looking forward to showcasing its aesthetic while also illustrating that designing a space is more than buying something and putting it into a room; it’s about buyers feeling comfortable and confident in their decisions.

“We know how the products are manufactured and installed, and we can show why we’re choosing specific products,” DeClerville said. “This is emblematic of the approach we bring and why we’re so excited about this space.”

This article was produced in collaboration between The Forum and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.