Embassy of the Republic of Korea
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Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
2450 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008
The former Canadian Joint Staff building became the Republic of Korea’s chancery in November 1992. Its limestone frontage faces Massachusetts Avenue in Kalorama.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1955 | verified; The contemporary Royal Canadian Navy journal Crowsnest, September 1955, vol. 7 no. 11, p. 18 (PDF p. 84), states that the Canadian Services building was completed and occupied on January 10, 1955. This direct completion account supersedes the assessment year 1953 and the earlier architectural-project reporting. |
| Acquired by Korea | May 1990 | verified Purchased from Canada; occupied by the ROK mission on 20 November 1992. |
| Neighborhood | Kalorama | verified DC assessment neighborhood. |
| Architect | Marani & Morris | verified |
| Rooms | 65–115 est. | estimated; Editorial estimate from the documented 61,666 sq ft floor area. Assume that 55–65% is enclosed, occupied room area, with an average of 350–500 sq ft per room; round the resulting limits outward to the nearest five rooms. Circulation, parking, stairs and open workstations are not counted as rooms. The allocation and room sizes are assumptions, not measurements from a floor plan. |
| Floor area | 61,700 sq ft | verified; DC CAMA living gross building area |
| Site area | 25,900 sq ft | verified; Parcel total: 2500/0856. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. |
| 2026 Value | $56.5M | verified; Parcel total: 2500/0856. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. |
| Diplomatic use | 1955 | verified; The contemporary Royal Canadian Navy journal Crowsnest, September 1955, vol. 7 no. 11, p. 18 (PDF p. 84), dates completion and Canadian Services occupation to January 10, 1955. Earliest diplomatic use at the property therefore predates Korea’s 1992 occupation. The February 1955 State diplomatic list also places the Canadian offices at 2450 Massachusetts Avenue. |
Scope and Evidence
The Royal Canadian Navy magazine Crowsnest (September 1955, p. 18) explicitly records completion and occupation on 10 January 1955. This contemporary completion account supersedes the conflicting 1952 architectural-journal date and 1953 inventory/assessment date. The February 1955 State Department directory independently lists the Canadian military, naval, air and defense-research offices at 2450 Massachusetts Avenue.
Purchased from Canada; occupied by the ROK mission on 20 November 1992.
DC assessment neighborhood.
Current assessed value; both CY1YEAR and CY2YEAR are 2026. Current tax assessment. Record extracted 2026-08-03.
- dalspaceb.library.dal.ca
- dcpreservation.org
- jproc.ca
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- planning.dc.gov
Research Questions
Where Is Embassy of the Republic of Korea?
2450 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008. Approximate centroid derived from DCGIS owner polygon; not entrance coordinates.
When Was Embassy of the Republic of Korea Built?
Constructed: 1955. Record status: verified. The contemporary Royal Canadian Navy journal Crowsnest, September 1955, vol. 7 no. 11, p. 18 (PDF p. 84), states that the Canadian Services building was completed and occupied on January 10, 1955. This direct completion account supersedes the assessment year 1953 and the earlier architectural-project reporting. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
Who Designed Embassy of the Republic of Korea?
Architect: Marani & Morris. Record status: verified. Record reviewed on 2026-10-20.
What Is the Floor Area of Embassy of the Republic of Korea?
Floor area: 61,700 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC CAMA living gross building area Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the Site Area of Embassy of the Republic of Korea?
Site area: 25,900 sq ft. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 2500/0856. 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 Embassy of the Republic of Korea?
2026 Value: $56.5M. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 2500/0856. 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.