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Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Bethesda construction update: The Wilson (Video+Photos)
Large glass panels are being installed at The Wilson, the future office tower at the front of Carr Properties' 7272 Wisconsin Avenue development. The building is not even close to topping out yet, so it's interesting to see glass going in so early.
You might be interested to know that those transparent and tinted tempered insulated glass panels on levels two through five are actually cladding parking levels below the office floors. The architect and developer were smart enough to create flat floors of parking above grade, with internal ramps, so that as transit usage, ride sharing and autonomous car sharing become more prevalent, these floors can be easily retrofitted to office, hotel or residential floors. The developer received a height bonus of 40’ to allow the exclusion of above grade parking from the maximum height. This was necessary because of the inefficiency created by the underground Purple Line and CCT tunnel, and offered as an incentive by the county to get the very complicated project built.
If you look closely, you will see small etched crosses on some of the windows. These are designated locations marked and visible from the outside for fire ladder truck rescue access.
An interesting thing about mostly glass buildings is that if they are located in suburban locations, they can be very bland, monolithic and boring. But when located in an urban setting like the Wilson, the glass refelcts the image of other nearby buildings, creating interesting patterns. Glass buildings like this also create added sunlight at lower levels as the refective glass bounces sunlight down to the street. More pedestrians have views of the sky and clouds as well.
Of course the Wilson will have many cantileverd and reccessed sections, so the relective surfaces in the glass might create some very dramatic views of "floating" floors. Older precast concrete or brick buildings, with strips of glazing are not nearly as dynamic as mostly glass buildings.
I would think the Wilson will create a nice refected image of the proposed brick clad Metro Tower by Saul Centers.
Of course at night, mostly glass buildings become like jellyfishes, and expose their interiors to add even more interest and variety. Many folks believe that too many glass buildings destroy the character of a city, but I believe that when combined with other more opaque modern and historic facades, glass buildings create lots of iconic dynamism.
I know it's a depressing sight for the "moribund" clan, but it really is cool to see such an impressive building going up in Bethesda. The Marriott rendering is ugly, but some of the others under construction truly are world-class.
As bad as the Apex Building was, I did like idea of the big circular courtyard, with lots of office windows overlooking the interior plaza. A nice way to get natural light deep into the building. I’m sure the open plaza at the corner will be much nicer, and lots more active with the Red and Purple alone Stations, and the CCT just below. I hope they sign some nice restaurants on the base of the Wilson, because they are proposing lots of outdoor dining. A fountain is proposed as well.
The glass is being installed progressively because the construction company has to sequence use of the tower cranes. Let's say it takes 6 months to install the windows on a complete building. If you do it at the end, you extend the construction process by 6 months. Alternatively, you can make use of the tower crane at nights, or during the day when it isn't lifting other items, which makes maximum use of the crane. On this project, the crane is a critical path item, meaning the building's project plan is constrained and limited by the available lift capacity of the onsite crane. You may have noticed that the cranes are integral to the building, meaning they are actually mounted to the foundation of the building. Aside from meaning that the crane mounts are a permanent artifact within the finished building, it also limits your ability to add more cranes in the future. You can't simply add a 30-story tower crane to a project. The cranes are actually a design element of the building.
5:59: It's a totally farcical troll comment. No such incident is taking place in a movie theater in Montgomery County, much less in Bethesda. Just more evidence of carpetbagging trolls thinking of their own native neighborhoods out of state.
"No such incident is taking place in a movie theater in Montgomery County, much less in Bethesda. Just more evidence of carpetbagging trolls thinking of their own native neighborhoods out of state."
You posted that for the world to see? Robert Dyer. Spreading ignorance wherever he goes.
Hopefully the glass panels will last longer than the ones in 4500 East West Highway, The Cheval, or 8300 Wisconsin Avenue.
ReplyDeleteYou might be interested to know that those transparent and tinted tempered insulated glass panels on levels two through five are actually cladding parking levels below the office floors. The architect and developer were smart enough to create flat floors of parking above grade, with internal ramps, so that as transit usage, ride sharing and autonomous car sharing become more prevalent, these floors can be easily retrofitted to office, hotel or residential floors. The developer received a height bonus of 40’ to allow the exclusion of above grade parking from the maximum height. This was necessary because of the inefficiency created by the underground Purple Line and CCT tunnel, and offered as an incentive by the county to get the very complicated project built.
ReplyDeleteIf you look closely, you will see small etched crosses on some of the windows. These are designated locations marked and visible from the outside for fire ladder truck rescue access.
"The building is not even close to topping out yet, so it's interesting to see glass going in so early."
ReplyDeleteIt's not early. Curtain wall systems and cladding begin appearing on most high rises well before top out.
An interesting thing about mostly glass buildings is that if they are located in suburban locations, they can be very bland, monolithic and boring. But when located in an urban setting like the Wilson, the glass refelcts the image of other nearby buildings, creating interesting patterns. Glass buildings like this also create added sunlight at lower levels as the refective glass bounces sunlight down to the street. More pedestrians have views of the sky and clouds as well.
ReplyDeleteOf course the Wilson will have many cantileverd and reccessed sections, so the relective surfaces in the glass might create some very dramatic views of "floating" floors. Older precast concrete or brick buildings, with strips of glazing are not nearly as dynamic as mostly glass buildings.
I would think the Wilson will create a nice refected image of the proposed brick clad Metro Tower by Saul Centers.
Of course at night, mostly glass buildings become like jellyfishes, and expose their interiors to add even more interest and variety. Many folks believe that too many glass buildings destroy the character of a city, but I believe that when combined with other more opaque modern and historic facades, glass buildings create lots of iconic dynamism.
I know it's a depressing sight for the "moribund" clan, but it really is cool to see such an impressive building going up in Bethesda. The Marriott rendering is ugly, but some of the others under construction truly are world-class.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteRoald you ‘look forward’ to everything. Robert could write about root canals and you would be ‘looking forward to it’
DeleteThink up some new material
Already this looks so much better than the ugly Apex building it's replacing.
ReplyDelete10:52 AM is day drinking again
ReplyDeleteAs bad as the Apex Building was, I did like idea of the big circular courtyard, with lots of office windows overlooking the interior plaza. A nice way to get natural light deep into the building. I’m sure the open plaza at the corner will be much nicer, and lots more active with the Red and Purple alone Stations, and the CCT just below. I hope they sign some nice restaurants on the base of the Wilson, because they are proposing lots of outdoor dining. A fountain is proposed as well.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if a company name will be on the building? Would probably have to be a pretty big company.
ReplyDeleteI would like the theater back very much.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it. LOL
Delete$20 tickets, $8 popcorn, $6 sodas, $5 candybars.
ReplyDelete$116 for a family of 4, so that they can sit in the dark while strangers have sex around them and chat on their phones.
2:31pm sounds like you were at a peep show, not a multiplex. Please keep it to yourself.
Delete"Peep show"? I haven't heard that word in about 30 years. Did you somehow miss out on VHS tapes in the 1990s?
DeleteWhere is this theater that "anonymous" goes to with his family where he says they are surrounded by "strangers having sex"?
ReplyDeleteHe mentioned this several times.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete4:59: Creepy, cringy comment. Off topic. Deleted.
ReplyDeleteThe glass is being installed progressively because the construction company has to sequence use of the tower cranes. Let's say it takes 6 months to install the windows on a complete building. If you do it at the end, you extend the construction process by 6 months. Alternatively, you can make use of the tower crane at nights, or during the day when it isn't lifting other items, which makes maximum use of the crane. On this project, the crane is a critical path item, meaning the building's project plan is constrained and limited by the available lift capacity of the onsite crane. You may have noticed that the cranes are integral to the building, meaning they are actually mounted to the foundation of the building. Aside from meaning that the crane mounts are a permanent artifact within the finished building, it also limits your ability to add more cranes in the future. You can't simply add a 30-story tower crane to a project. The cranes are actually a design element of the building.
ReplyDeleteLet me dumb it down for you
ReplyDeleteIf people want to have sex while watching a movie they should stay home.
Is that statement really creepy? Sad
5:59: It's a totally farcical troll comment. No such incident is taking place in a movie theater in Montgomery County, much less in Bethesda. Just more evidence of carpetbagging trolls thinking of their own native neighborhoods out of state.
ReplyDelete5:47: Very informative explanation. Thank you.
"No such incident is taking place in a movie theater in Montgomery County, much less in Bethesda. Just more evidence of carpetbagging trolls thinking of their own native neighborhoods out of state."
ReplyDeleteYou posted that for the world to see?
Robert Dyer. Spreading ignorance wherever he goes.
Just because Robert isn’t having sex in movie theaters doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
ReplyDeleteIt's odd that Dyer isn't reporting on the recent difficulties of the incoming tenant.
ReplyDelete"Just because Robert isn’t having sex doesn’t mean it isn’t happening."
ReplyDeleteHe just needs more cowbell
Delete