Carr plans to submit the building to LEED certification. This project follows Carr's newly begun development at 901 K St., a 12-story, 250,000-sf building, which will also be submitted for LEED certification when complete, as reported by GlobeSt.com. Carr has not released development costs for either building.

Both buildings have been designed by SmithGroup, Inc. of Washington. The facade on 1701 Duke St. will feature a floating transparent glass plane interspersed with brick, punched windows and metallic bays. A public plaza will be built between the new and historic buildings at Edmonson Plaza, including the 188-year old building at 1707 Duke St., which served as a holding facility during the slave era in this country.

Edmonson Plaza commemorates the life stories of Emily and Mary Edmonson who were held at 1707 Duke St. after the two sisters were captured attempting to flee North. Eventually emancipated from slavery, Mary died a few years later, while Emily became a well-known educator and human rights activist. Their experiences served as the basis for several of the characters in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin".