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| You can see how the architect immediately improved the massing design (right) over the bland one (left) pushed in the sector plan that's taking over downtown |
Attorneys Bob Dalrymple and Matt Gordon represented the applicants; WPC is "deeply committed" to the project, they said, because their headquarters is located on the site. WPC has not said publicly that it will relocate into the new building. It would seem to be a strong possibility, as they are losing their current HQ, and the office market is weak in Montgomery County.
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| 3 design options under consideration |
Asked if the new abnormal of the coronavirus pandemic would influence the design of the project, Dalrymple joked that "the building did not cause the coronavirus." But architecture firm Shalom Baranes Associates is looking at many ideas for cleaning indoor air and mitigating contact, and expects to incorporate them into the project.
A sketch plan will be submitted to the Montgomery County Planning Department in the coming weeks. There was not yet a solidified architectural design to show last night, but three different approaches are being considered.
This seems like a nice infill project that balances residential and office uses. Based on the entitlement and construction process, the offices would not be available to lease for at least four or five years, so the developer seems to be playing a long game and assumes that 350,000 SF of Class A trophy office space will be in demand in 2025 or so.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the massing, I think it is refreshing to see this idea of discrete cubic massing volumes arranged in a vertical stack, separated by outdoor roof terraces, some of which are covered by cantilevered buildings above. Most building have rather boring an simple rectangular or stepped massing, so this is new to the area. It is similar the the proposed adjacent senior care facility with readable stacked massing for independent, assisted and memory care housing, on top of retail. The whole block would read a similar idea of vertically stacked, but discrete uses.
I like that the parking access and service area are adjacent to the same functions on the neighboring project, placed mid-block on a Hampden Lane. This frees up all four corners of the block for retail or lobbies.
The shared residential and office lobby, with adjacent retail shops, is an interesting idea as well, more common in cities like New York.
This is the bold vision for the future, plowing ahead with more of the same? I thought the area already suffered a glut of unleased office space. Why are developers proposing many hundreds of thousands of square-feet more, **especially** since Covid life has proven how easy it is to transfer to remote working most of the tasks that formerly took place in said offices.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great project. The building will replace a not so bad build, but the 262' mixed-use tower couldn't be more transit friendly. Bethesda Metro, the new South Entrance to the Metro Station, and the Purple Line.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that this won't combine with the project on the East end of the block, the old Exxon and Tommy Joe's. As I understand the Exxon lot will not be smart urban development. What I mean is that it will be a "short-rise" building surrounded by Transit Oriented Development Central Business Development high-rises. It will border this 262' building and look so out of place in a growing city. Please, update me about the Exxon development if it's changed or changes. It's an eyesore now. Even if they don't combine, The Exxon site is prime property and should be developed as such. Not like the 5-story building, originally built in 1the 1980's above the Purple Line. That was just dumb and a waste of money. I think it was called Embassy Plaza or something with a nice movie theater, but didn't last long.
Anyway, back to this 262' tall building. If there is anyway this developer can find a way to make it taller, they should. TDR's or adding more affordable residential units in exchange for more Trophy Office space or market priced units. This is prime real estate, a gold mine, and centrally located.
Tyson's Corner has a 66-Story Building under construction. The first real Skyscraper in the region. Bethesda can compete, a smaller footprint, but it can compete, anchored by Marriott and other urban newcomers.
The Residential building planned for the 7-11/Eagle Bank lot is still the tallest planned at 315'. Hampden House will be a 25-story building with construction started this month. The Bethesda Metro Center will where Street Sense is will be massive as other nearby buildings are or will be.
At least at 262' tall, this building will be a real prize for Bethesda and Montgomery County.