Adams Morgan Lofts

The Adams Morgan Lofts was an unusual project, a PUD (Planned Unit Development) in which the required “public amenity” is a public parking garage.  ECA worked closely with competing community groups (merchants versus residents) to achieve the final balance of 65 loft-style condominiums atop 350 parking spaces.  There are two buildings connected by a dramatic glassed-in bridge over a public circulation spine connecting 18th and Champlain Streets.  Carefully worked out vehicular and pedestrian pathways break up the very long block while keeping most of the cars off of residential Champlain Street.  As most of the garage is above grade, the masonry façades of the residential floors were extended over parking areas, with translucent glazing in otherwise-similar windows.   ECA later designed a third building for the complex, known as Adams Station, which consists of condominiums over retail.