When you think about styles of architecture in Washington, D.C., the first word that comes to mind probably isn’t “progressive.” Encyclopedia Britannia puts it this way:
“Three factors have radically influenced the style of Washington’s architecture: restrictions on the height of structures, Classicism, and conservatism.”
The new Lyric 440K Apartments are a prime example – an innovative 14-story structure housing 234 one- and two-bedroom units in the heart of the up-and-coming Mount Vernon Triangle.
Troy Balkema, the project director at Quadrangle Development Corporation who oversaw the Lyric 440K’s design and construction, explains that “this neighborhood is due east of the Washington Convention Center, and it’s been transitioning for probably 10 or 12 years now.”
Jasna Bijelic, senior designer at Davis Carter Scott (DCS) Design, was the project’s architect. She recalls, “The porcelain tile skin was very expensive, but we wanted to achieve it, so we were looking for something that would complement what we were doing. That’s how ALPOLIC® materials came into play. They are a very high quality aluminum composite cladding material at a very affordable price. Partially, I think that made it possible to execute the design we have today.” Discovering high-quality ALPOLIC® composites in an exceptional array of finishes opened her eyes to new possibilities. “I really give compliments to ALPOLIC®/fr Materials,” she says. “They have a nice website where you can find lots of interesting finishes.” Instead of the usual shades of gray, whites and muted solid colors, with ALPOLIC® Materials “you have all these different finishes that are kind of inspiring.”
Lyric 440, Washington D.C., Alpolic/fr in MFS Mica Silver, SBP Dragonfly Prismatic, BNT Bone White Solid Finishes
That inspiration finds its most notable expression in a huge “fin” that gives the Lyric 440K building its focal point. The most striking thing about the “fin” is its color. Bijelic explains, “When I was ordering samples, I was going through the website, and I found this finish called Dragonfly, and I couldn’t resist. “The Dragonfly did such a good job of creating a level of interest and being so unique in the neighborhood and in DC in general, that everybody who sees it is stunned initially with what they see – how it changes from teal, to purple, to almost orange or pink depending on how the sun hits it.”
In addition to the “fin” in our custom SBP Dragonfly Prismatic finish, the building incorporates ALPOLIC® materials in BNT Bone White and MFS Mica Silver.
All these finishes are made possible by the unrivaled color, brightness and gloss range available with Lumiflon® FEVE fluoropolymer resin and Valflon® coatings supplied to us exclusively by Valspar®.
Murray Walker, senior project director at DCS, explains that there were many places where the glazing, tiling and composite material elements all converged in the same place. “It was a complicated building to detail and get it right,” Walker says. “We used an open joint system to complement the tile rainscreen, and it also had to tie in with our window systems. We were very pleased with the ALPOLIC® product. We like working with it. We can detail it really well – particularly for the waterproofing of the building and good thermal control.” And, he says, echoing Joe Paradise, “It all comes together really well.”
The Lyric 440K is one building that honors tradition while looking proudly forward to a new way.
Related Stories
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy
Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Dec 28, 2014
6 trends steering today's college residence halls
University students want more in a residence hall than just a place to sleep. They want a space that reflects their style of living and learning.
| Dec 22, 2014
Studio Gang to design Chicago’s third-tallest skyscraper
The first U.S. real-estate investment by The Wanda Group, owned by China’s richest man, will be an 88-story, 1,148-ft-tall mixed-use tower designed by Jeanne Gang.
| Dec 17, 2014
ULI report looks at growing appeal of micro unit apartments
New research from the Urban Land Institute suggests that micro units have staying power as a housing type that appeals to urban dwellers in high-cost markets who are willing to trade space for improved affordability and proximity to downtown neighborhoods.
| Dec 15, 2014
SHoP Architects plans to turn NY's Seaport District into pedestrianized, mixed-use area
The scheme includes a proposed 500-foot luxury residential tower that would jut out into the harbor, extending the Manhattan grid out into the waterfront.
Sponsored | | Dec 3, 2014
Modular Space Showcase: Bringing work-life balance to energy workers in the Bakken region
To meet the demands of the booming energy business, Williston needs to provide homes, recreation centers, restaurants, hotels, and other support facilities for the tidal wave of energy workers relocating to the Bakken Shale area. SPONSORED CONTENT
| Dec 2, 2014
First existing multifamily buildings to earn Energy Star certification unveiled
River City in Chicago is one of 17 existing multifamily properties to earn Energy Star certification, which became available to this sector on Sept. 16 via a scoring system for multifamily properties that Energy Star and Fannie Mae had been developing for three years.
| Dec 2, 2014
SPARK designs urban farming housing for Singapore’s elderly population
The proposal blends affordable retirement housing with urban farming by integrating vertical aquaponic farming and rooftop soil planting into multi-unit housing for seniors.
| Nov 24, 2014
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill-designed crystalline tower breaks ground in southwestern China
Fitted with an LED façade, the 468-meter Greenland Tower Chengdu will act as a light sculpture for the city of Chengdu.
| Nov 24, 2014
Must see: Plans released for underwater city that could house 5,000 people
The design centers around a floating, 500-meter-wide sphere linked to a resource center on the ocean floor via a 15-kilometer, helix-shaped path.