Yale Steam Laundry Condominiums

Citation of Merit

With respect for this building's history and character as a former commercial laundry facility, the architects elected to adapt the building into an amenity-infused condominium, leaving much of the original brick and concrete in place. Even the oddly spaced floor framing was allowed to remain. The decision to keep much of the original building and interior impressed the jury: "They haven't messed with any of the existing piping. They even keep existing columns—it's asymmetrical." Where design interventions were needed, the architects made the insertions visually deliberate yet subdued. An example is the lacquered steel-plated bridge that spans a hallway in a common area. Jurors further deemed the work "a lovely project" that exemplified good adaptive reuse.

Architect: John Ronan Architects
Associate Architect: BBG-BBGM Architects & Interiors
Client: IBG Partners, LLC/Greenfield Partners
Consultants: Holbert Apple Associates (structural); Bowman Consulting (civil); GHT Limited (MEP); Mactec Engineering (geotechnical)
General contractor: Clark Construction Group LLC
Location: Washington, DC
Category: Residential