There are more 150 buildings or upcoming projects in the metropolitan area with residential lofts. Some were converted from former warehouses, schools, or churches. Many of these buildings were recently constructed since the metro area does not have a significant history of industrial and manufacturing companies compared to New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.

The influx of people from many of these industrial cities as well as from other cities across the country and even the world, have created the demand for lofts and urban homes featuring contemporary design elements. Several local developers and architects have responded to the demand.

Some early lofts in the Washington DC area include:

• 629 Constitution Ave., NE - A 1906 C&P Telephone building was converted in 1985 into four loft units.
• Berret School Lofts at 1408 Q Street, NW - This 1860 school building was converted into 12 loft units in 1999.
• Johnson Avenue Lofts at 1737 Johnson Ave., NW - In 1996, this building was converted into five loft units.
• Morgan Annex at 2428 17th  Street, NW - This 1890's DC Public School building located in Adams Morgan was converted into 16 large loft units in 1993.
• Tuskaloosa at 2526 17th Street, NW - Nine loft units were created in 1989 with the conversion of a telephone switch building in Adams Morgan.

More than a half-dozen schools have been converted into lofts, including:

• Berret School Lofts in Northwest DC
• Bryan School Lofts in Southeast DC
• Carbery School Lofts in Northeast DC
• Lenox School Lofts in Northwest DC
• Lovejoy Lofts in Northeast DC
• Morgan Annex in Northwest DC
• Pierce School Lofts in Northwest DC
• Syphax School Lofts in Southwest DC