Eliot on 4th, a 365-unit mixed-use community in Washington, D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront, is the first ground-up residential project in a 12-acre Planned Unit Development. The community intends to appeal to a “move-up” rental market of young professionals, couples, and small families, with larger-than-average floor plans, a greater percentage of one- and two-bedroom units, and sophisticated interior styles and finishes.
The front-facing exterior features a curved wood entrance canopy, designed by Perkins Eastman DC to recall the community’s waterfront location, and a high-performance terra-cotta rainscreen façade, made to maximize daylight while mitigating heat gain to the interior.
The community’s rooftop amenities offer panoramic views of the city and include a rooftop tree grove, grilling spaces, breakout dining spaces, and fire pits. The rooftop pool and sundeck are placed specifically to overlook the National Mall and Capitol at the building’s northeast corner. Residents can also access an interior penthouse club room, an indoor lounge and dining spaces, a large private courtyard, and a 1,800-square-foot fitness center.
Among the PUD’s requirements for the site was the construction of a new public street, which would reconnect two urban areas and provide access to amenities, retail, and transportation in the mixed-use district. To create an active atmosphere on this street, the building integrates a series of two-story townhouse-style units with direct access to this street from the ground level, each with a large private terrace.
The building is LEED v2009 Gold certified, with thermally broken window systems and LED lighting throughout. A highly efficient variable refrigerant flow system and a series of lighting controls enable residents to individually adjust their spaces to their comfort. The landscaping is designed to reduce water consumption and mitigate stormwater runoff, with more than 20,000 square feet of green roof space and 6,000 square feet of permeable pavers on the new street.
