The Drake

The Drake was Washington DC’s second micro-unit apartment building, following closely behind the Harper, also designed by ECA. Technically an addition to the adjacent First Baptist Church, the project draws inspiration from the diverse buildings surrounding the site. The building’s exterior is predominantly yellow brick, recalling that of nearby Art Moderne apartment buildings, blended with gray and brown stone similar to that of the church. Large corner windows with asymmetrical mullions are contemporary reinterpretations of Art Moderne precedents. The sunshelves at the windows add depth to the facades while bouncing daylight deeper into the units, and also control solar gain.