BACKGROUND
Located in Washington, DC, the esteemed Cosmos Club is a private social club for intellectuals distinguished in science, literature, the arts and public service. Since its inception in 1878, The Club has been noted for its camaraderie and atmosphere of warmth, dignity, and elegance while perpetuating both intellectual stimulation and solitude. In an effort to provide its members with a dining facility that parallels the surrounding and ever-evolving metropolis, Cosmos Club embarked on an interior renovation program designed to refresh various dining spaces while still speaking to the Club’s distinguished history.
OUR APPROACH
Hired in 2016, Chambers developed a renovation plan aimed to enhance the overall ambiance and experience for each and every member. And to ensure the design stayed true to the Club’s classic and elegant appeal, Chambers maintained the beautiful existing architectural elements and introduced consistent material and style.
A new entrance into the Main Dining area creates an elevated experience upon arrival passing by the new wine vault. A new maître d’ station provides an area where guests are greeted upon arrival and the kitchen now has carefully planned access points to further improve the flow of service. So as to not disrupt the dining experience for members and guests, new banquette seating creates an open corridor for a natural travel path for service staff as they journey through the space to the newly renovated kitchen.
In an effort to introduce a more casual and spontaneous dining experience into a room that once only housed formal dining, an intimate bar—the Heroy Bar—was implemented. The Heroy is accented by a back-lit stone-look countertop with rich upholstered leather panels and a sophisticated bottle display. The adjacent lounge area creates an inviting space to enjoy pre-dinner drinks and conversation with fellow members.
The neighboring Smith Room boasts a mixture of seating types for members to enjoy drinks and food. Accented with wine cabinet displays and a built-in buffet, this room can accommodate all-day service with ample storage. The addition of a communal table adds flexible seating style and opportunity for member socialization. Finally, glass doors between the dining areas allow these spaces to work separately or in conjunction with one another, increasing overall flexibility.
RESULTS
Members have quickly adapted to the new configuration of these spaces and thoroughly enjoy the increased flexibility and updated ambiance. From morning to night, the spaces are abuzz with great conversation, delicious meals, and unmatched camaraderie.
