flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Apartment takes progressive turn in architecturally traditional D.C.

Sponsored Content Multifamily Housing

Apartment takes progressive turn in architecturally traditional D.C.

ALPOLIC's finish is notable in a huge “fin” that gives the Lyric 440K building its focal point


By ALPOLIC | October 15, 2015
Apartment takes progressive turn in architecturally traditional D.C.

Lyric 440, Washington D.C., Alpolic/fr in MFS Mica Silver, SBP Dragonfly Prismatic, BNT Bone White Solid Finishes

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

Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013

5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems

From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.

| Mar 6, 2013

Dual towers designed by SHoP create new affordable housing in NYC

With the construction of Hunters Point South, New York City will get its first large new housing development for middle-class families in more than 30 years. Related Companies is partnering with the nonprofit Phipps Houses in the project, designed by SHoP Architects with Ismael Leyva Architects.

| Mar 6, 2013

German demonstration building features algae-powered façade

Exterior of carbon-neutral demonstration building consists of hollow glass panels containing micro-algae "farms."

| Mar 4, 2013

Gehry unveils design for Santa Monica hotel-condo tower

If all goes as planned, Frank Gehry will design the first building in his hometown in some 25 years.

| Mar 3, 2013

Hines acquires Archstone's interest in $700 million CityCenterDC project

The Washington D.C. office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced the acquisition of the ownership interest of their partner, Archstone, in the mixed-use CityCenterDC project that is currently under construction in downtown Washington, D.C.

| Mar 1, 2013

China mega developer enters U.S. market

China Vanke Co., Ltd., is making its debut in the U.S. property market with a joint venture high-rise condominium project at 201 Folsom St. in San Francisco, according to CoStar's Randyl Drummer.

| Feb 28, 2013

Novel multifamily solutions to be presented at New York Modular Construction Summit

The New York Modular Construction Summit will be co-hosted by the Modular Building Institute and Pratt Institute School of Architecture on May 16, 2013, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

| Feb 28, 2013

Lend Lease builds world's tallest timber apartment building

Construction giant Lend Lease recently put the finishing touches on Forté, a 10-story apartment complex in Melbourne, Australia's Victoria Harbour that was built entirely with cross laminated timber (CTL) technology.

| Feb 27, 2013

Bronx residents get LEED Platinum public housing complex, rooftop farm

The New York City Housing Authority has opened Arbor House, a 124-unit LEED Platinum complex in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx.

| Feb 25, 2013

What end-users do (and don't) know about lighting technology (infographic)

The fifth annual SYLVANIA Socket Survey from OSRAM SYLVANIA finds that consumers are adjusting to new legislation and energy-efficient lighting options, with about half saying that they plan to switch to new lighting technologies.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021