400 Massachusetts Avenue Condos

Washington, DC

Mason Contractor: Genco Masonry, Inc.
Architect: Esocoff and Associates

Project Description

The architect made full use of one of those made-in-Washington triangular sites for this challenging project. The intersection of Mass. Ave. with H St. and 4th St. is punctuated with a tight radius utilizing radial brick. To further complicate the construction, the new building is wrapped around an existing historic firehouse.

The façade celebrates the use of masonry with it's brilliant mix of three colors of brick along with strategically placed decorative precast elements. Not only has the architect used multiple colors, but he has also utilized three sizes, (utility, norman and closure) as well as a multitude of special shapes including multiple angles, radials and birdsmouth brick accenting the windows.

To enhance the longer building elevations, the architect utilizes modern building technology to curve the ends of the floor slabs. This created gracefully curved, undulating brick walls, that produce elegant, rhythmic facades that break the stereotypical straight masonry wall, and showoff impressive masonry craftsmanship.

The architect tops off the building with massive amounts of precast and masonry walls and piers at the roof top terraces. The final icing on this masonry cake is at the apex of the triangle at the roof where the architect peeled away the building to reveal a wavy brick structure that resembles a flag.