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International Square – The Square

Washington, D.C. (2023)

The Square at International Square is a 25,000-square-foot chef-driven culinary marketplace situated beneath a 12-story glass atrium in downtown Washington, D.C. The space features 16 food vendor stalls, a central bar and restaurant, and a flexible event space—all served by high-performance commercial kitchen ventilation.

Find out more about this project at: https://ks.partners/projects/the-square-at-international-square/

A key challenge in this project was delivering a ventilation system that could effectively handle the diverse cooking profiles of multiple independent vendors while preserving the open, communal aesthetic of the atrium. Traditional ducted systems for each space were not viable due to space constraints and architectural considerations.

See the full TV Producer’s Cut episode that was featured on CBS Series America ByDesign: Architecture in May 2025.

To address this, a centralized kitchen ventilation strategy was implemented. All food vendor spaces are equipped with advanced, low-airflow Halton Capture Jet™ exhaust hoods, designed to capture grease, smoke, and odors at their source. These hoods are integrated with Halton M.A.R.V.E.L. demand-controlled kitchen ventilation, which automatically adjusts exhaust and supply airflow based on real-time cooking activity. This intelligent system optimizes energy efficiency while maintaining a safe, comfortable environment. The hoods are connected to a carefully balanced central exhaust system, ensuring consistent performance across the entire food hall and minimizing overall energy consumption.

By integrating high-efficiency hood technology with an adaptable building ventilation strategy, the project team successfully delivered a solution that ensures exceptional air quality, supports diverse cooking operations, enhances energy efficiency, and maintains a premium guest experience—all within a visually stunning architectural space.

Project Team

Architect
Krueck Sexton Partners
https://ks.partners/

Foodservice Consultant
JRS & Associates

Mechanical Rep
Metropolitan Equipment Group
https://www.meghvac.com/

 

Halton Project Team

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