The Lyric 440K apartments: D.C. architecture takes a progressive turn

When describing the architectural styles of Washington, D.C., progressive  is not a term most would associate with buildings in the nation’s capital.  But over the last decade, the Mount Vernon Triangle ─ located east of the Washington Convention Center─ has experienced a transition from exclusive industrial and commercial activity to a “walkable” neighborhood of businesses interspersed with new and historic residences.

In the heart of this community stands a prime example of innovation in architecture for the metropolitan area: the Lyric 440K Apartments, a 14-story structure with 234 one-and two-bedroom units.

Quadrangle Development Corporation oversaw the Lyric 440K’s design and construction with Davis Carter Scott (DCS) Design. In searching for alternatives to expensive porcelain tile to achieve the look envisioned for the project, they turned to ALPOLIC^® because of the company’s reputation for high quality and exceptional service. The option to use fire-resistant aluminum cladding materials in the building’s envelope in an exceptional array of finishes inspired the design team to achieve their desired results without the added costs.

That inspiration finds its signature expression in a huge “fin” that gives the Lyric 440K building its focal point. The most striking thing about the “fin” is its color, a custom color variation of the Prismatic Finish named DragonFly.  As with all ALPOLIC^® Prismatic finishes, this particular color gives the illusion of changing color, contingent on point of view and the angle of light on the surface. Depending on where one looks, one can see shades of purple, teal, orange, and even pink.

In addition to the “fin,” the building incorporates ALPOLIC^® materials in BNT Bone White and MFS Mica Silver, providing a unique combination of colors that stand out. All of these finishes are made possible by the unrivaled color, brightness and gloss range available with Lumiflon^® FEVE fluoropolymer resin and Valflon^® coatings supplied by Valspar^®.

ALPOLIC^® not only proved to enhance the outward appearance of the Lyric 440K building, but also provided flexibility in the overall design, in particular where waterproofing and thermal control were concerned. Materials were easily applied to an otherwise complex and detailed design.

The Lyric 440K is one building in Washington, D.C. that honors tradition in architectural style while looking proudly forward to a new way.