Rooftop lighting activated at Hampden House in Bethesda (Photos)

The new Hampden House apartment tower at 4700 Hampden Lane - like its next-door neighbor at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue - stands out in architectural design among the many "base-podium" buildings constructed since the Bethesda Downtown sector plan was passed in 2017. One of the features many have been waiting to see is the rooftop lighting of the building. That has now been activated, and was lit last night. Is this all there is, or is there more lighting yet to be lit up there? Let's hope so, so the fine architectural lines up there can fully pop at night, like they're supposed to. But it's a great start, and better than the nothing we are used to getting these days.

I suppose beggars can't be choosers, as many other buildings with distinctive rooflines like this in recent years have either been forced to entirely shut off their accent lighting, or have chosen not to install it from the beginning. The Darcy in Bethesda, and the Cambria Suites hotel in Rockville Town Center come to mind. Two things we need more of on the skylines of Montgomery County's urban areas: corporate headquarters logos, and lights, lights, and more lights! Imagine New York City's high-rises blacked out at night. Nuts!