Canadian Ambassador’s Residence
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
2825 Rock Creek Drive NW, Washington, DC
The John W. Davidge House stands in Woodland Normanstone, beside Rock Creek Park. Canada’s official residence moved here in the 1940s, separating diplomatic entertaining and domestic life from the chancery.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1930 | verified; Retain DC Office of Planning architectural history: Ward 3 Heritage Guide identifies John W. Davidge House (1930), overriding the conflicting 1927 residential assessment year. Acquisition in 1947 is separate from the HABS evidence of furnishings transferred to the new residence in 1946. |
| Acquired by Canada | 1947 | documented Ward 3 Heritage Guide acquisition chronology; HABS records residence use in 1946. Exact deed remains unexamined. |
| Neighborhood | Woodland Normanstone | documented |
| Architect | Not Verified | unverified |
| Rooms | 15 | verified; DC residential CAMA ROOMS for building 1, distinct from bedrooms and modeled room studies. Replaces the editorial 25–40-room estimate. |
| Floor area | 11,200 sq ft | verified; DC residential CAMA GBA, building 1. Supersedes the 10,053-sq-ft real-estate listing figure, whose inclusions were not defined. |
| Site area | 32,800 sq ft | verified; Parcel total: 2199/0022. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. |
| 2026 Value | $14.3M | verified; Parcel total: 2199/0022. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. |
| Diplomatic use | 1946 | verified; HABS DC-267, p. 7 (PDF p. 8), records the transfer of furniture from Canada’s Massachusetts Avenue building to the ambassador’s new residence on Rock Creek Drive in 1946. This documents the new residence’s use before the commonly cited 1947 purchase date. |
Scope and Evidence
The DC Office of Planning identifies the Davidge House as dating to 1930 and lists Canada’s acquisition in 1947. The transfer of residence furnishings in 1946 establishes occupation by that year. The deed date remains unresolved.
DC residential CAMA records 11,231 sq ft and 15 rooms. The earlier listing figure of 10,053 sq ft and editorial room range have been superseded. Historical completion and assessor-age records remain distinguished in Sources.
These establish the recessed rear court, pitched roofs with upper decks, bowed east end, Benton Place garages and curved entrance drive. The 23 m frontage and 19 m west return are proportional estimates. Partly obscured rear openings, roof details and landscaping remain approximate.
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- planning.dc.gov
- tile.loc.gov
- tile.loc.gov
- www.google.com
- www.google.com
Research Questions
Where Is Canadian Ambassador’s Residence?
2825 Rock Creek Drive NW, Washington, DC.
When Was Canadian Ambassador’s Residence Built?
Constructed: 1930. Record status: verified. Retain DC Office of Planning architectural history: Ward 3 Heritage Guide identifies John W. Davidge House (1930), overriding the conflicting 1927 residential assessment year. Acquisition in 1947 is separate from the HABS evidence of furnishings transferred to the new residence in 1946. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the Floor Area of Canadian Ambassador’s Residence?
Floor area: 11,200 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC residential CAMA GBA, building 1. Supersedes the 10,053-sq-ft real-estate listing figure, whose inclusions were not defined. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the Site Area of Canadian Ambassador’s Residence?
Site area: 32,800 sq ft. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 2199/0022. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the 2026 Value of Canadian Ambassador’s Residence?
2026 Value: $14.3M. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 2199/0022. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.