Bread for the City in Washington, DC by Wiebenson & Dorman Architects

Article source: Wiebenson & Dorman Architects

Bread for the City offers five program services to low-income residents of Washington, DC: food and clothing distribution, primary medical care, legal advice and representation, and comprehensive social services. All services are free of cost to eligible DC residents, and are provided under one roof in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Image Courtesy © John Cole

• Architects: Wiebenson & Dorman Architects
• Project: Bread for the City
• Location: Washington, DC, USA
• Photography: John Cole

Image Courtesy © John Cole

To help ease their growing pains, and by using some funds from the tobacco settlement, Bread built an additional 12,227 sf, two story masonry, glass and steel clinic addition on their adjacent lots south of their existing 9,608 sf building.

Image Courtesy © John Cole

The addition lightly touches their historically recognized adjacent existing building (a former lumber warehouse) with a swatch of insulated glass that separate the brick masses of the new and old – and 4 interior openings (2 at each floor) between the new and old buildings. The large exterior perforated aluminum sun screen over the entry recalls the marquee of the Broadway Theater that graced the site years ago.

Image Courtesy © John Cole

Other features include the following:

• A green planting roof – to harvest vegetables and give to clients.
• Loft style interiors with exposed ducts, piping, cable conduits, and the like painted white.
• A large double height atrium skylight brings in natural daylight and solar gain.
• The brick wall of the existing building is exposed on the interior of the new space.
• Alternating green and blue tinted insulated street front windows.
• Bold colored, easy-care linoleum flooring and carpet tiles.
• Tall wood doors (with oversized glass transoms) and millwork are natural warm tones.
• Energy efficient lighting, plumbing, and mechanical systems.
• 2 large waiting rooms and reception areas (one on each floor), a meeting room, Doctor’s quarters (symbolically located above the entry), a lab, a dispensary, 10 exam rooms, a dental facility and a eye exam area.

Image Courtesy © John Cole

The new modern and clean facility reinforces their motto: Dignity – Respect – Service, and helps Bread for the City help more than 10,000 people each month.

Image Courtesy © John Cole

Image Courtesy © John Cole

Image Courtesy © John Cole

Tags: DC, Washington

Category: Community Centre

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