Adams Morgan Kiosk

The historical kiosk, located at the crossroads of Columbia Rd and Adams Mill Rd NW in Washington, DC, is made of concrete and, several years ago, had a big flag pole on top of the roof.

It shows a rounded concrete roof supported by a concrete square column, covered by a rectangular structure that supports display panels.

The kiosk is also decorated with lighting during festivals or other festivities and presents signs of distress, with flaking paint and damaged concrete.

In 2019, the Gateway Advisory Committee approved a renovation project that included a metal sculpture on top, a copper roof, four “Adams Morgan” signs on the four sides, hanging structures on the lower decorative fascia, and an art display case.

The simplified plan removed the sculpture at the top but maintained the same sign on the four sides and a decorative fascia. Four decorative steel flat bars anchored on the concrete roof were designed to support both signs and fascia.

Space for a solar panel that will charge a battery placed inside the boards or under the roof was identified on top of the roof.

In collaboration with Architect Charles Bergen, Artist Davide Prete redesigned, fabricated, and installed the sign, which was painted in a gradation of colors like the LGBTQ pride flag, and installed the decorative fascia to support holiday decorations.

The kiosk's renovation also involved repainting the concrete and installing the battery charged by the solar panels.