PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Parkway Overlook Apartments project is a rehabilitation initiative of an abandoned garden apartments complex in Southeast Washington, DC’s Congress Heights neighborhood. The site is located just three miles from the U.S. Capitol across the Anocostia River. Site reclamation converted the property into 220 units of affordable housing consisting of 1-2-3 bedroom units. Workforce development training programs were implemented to provide onsite support for residents. Solar power systems were installed which will provide up to 30% of the energy needed for the facility. For more information about the project, read the press release from the Washington, DC mayor’s office.
LOCATION DETAILS
Property Name: Parkway Overlook Apartments
Address: 2841 Robinson Place, SE, Washington, DC 20020
Owner and Client: District of Columbia Housing Authority
TREX FENCING INSTALLATION
Trex Fencing is used throughout the seven acre Parkway Overlook Apartments project in applications for trash enclosures, group condenser and HVAC equipment enclosures. Trex Fencing was selected specifically because the architect felt the unique board-on-board characteristics of Seclusions contributed to the site design. The fence was used to surround three sides of the enclosures but left open in the front for easy access and to avoid a sense of the large enclosures appearing closed-off. The architect wanted a small amount of transparency, so the fence was designed for such by cutting alternating pickets near the top to provide a gap. Horizontal rails ran below the semi-transparent top as a way to give the enclosures a finished look to the open feel. This solution provided relative ease of construction and limited costs.
The adaptability of Trex Fencing makes it a perfect solution for trash enclosures or HVAC enclosures. Even tall dumpsters or HVAC equipment can be hidden from view behind a Trex fence since the structures can be adapted to various heights. The sturdy, dense posts can be installed directly into the ground or on top of concrete pads sleeved over post mounts. With a 5/8″ thick wall, Trex posts are designed for standalone support up to eight feet tall.
Like the Parkway Overlook Apartments complex, every housing site has trash collection locations and utility equipment. While necessary for living spaces, these site features are typically unattractive. Dumpster enclosures provide obscurity to hide unsightly trash receptacles and HVAC enclosures block noisy equipment. The aesthetic improvement a Trex fence can provide extends beyond the functional benefit of heavier, more industrial structures such as block walls. Both serve to provide durable enclosures, but Trex fencing is a softer, more natural barrier and provides a value engineering option to finished, textured walls. Trex fences are easier to repair and adapt, and gates can be constructed with Trex Fencing components ensuring a matching design throughout.
PROJECT ARCHITECT
EDG of Bethesda, Maryland was selected as the project architect. The firm provides comprehensive design and production services in the DC Metro area. For more information on the firm’s work on the Parkway Overlook Apartments and the use of Trex fencing in this project, please contact the project architect.
ABOUT TREX FENCING FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
Trex fencing is a composite fence system designed to provide full or partial privacy with durable, low-maintenance materials. Available in vertical or horizontal picket orientations, the fence is versatile; it can be stepped or sloped and built up to 12′ tall. Since the early 1990’s, Trex has led the outdoor building materials industry in composite products, providing innovative, environmentally responsible solutions for commercial building projects.
