JBG Smith's Class A trophy office tower project, 4747 Bethesda Avenue, seems to get taller by the week. The first glass panels are being installed. When complete, it will rise 15 stories above Bethesda Row, with a 7000 SF restaurant, a fitness center, a rooftop terrace with an indoor/outdoor lounge and fire pit, and a conference and event space. 4747 Bethesda is scheduled for delivery next year. Here's a look at the progress, and a short video clip of crane operations.
7 comments:
Very telling that you go to comment sections on days-old stories to make fictitious accusations against me.
Your inability to accept that I'm who I say I am is pathetic.
I'm still just me. You can work yourself up with hilarious conspiracy theories all you want...you'll always be wrong.
It's almost like I need to apologize for being a real and honest and outspoken person. Isn't that too silly?
I'm a middle-aged gal who's lived/worked here since 1963. sheesh... I sure do confound you.
Stupid-Never...Outspoken-Always...Truth-4Life.
Should be "participation trophy" office building.
As an architect who lives near this building, I would disagree with any thoughts that this building will not be a true landmark in the area.
To start with, the scale is carefully modulated to enhance density, but not overwhelm the slightly lower 7272 Wisconsin development. The building gracefully steps down to rest on the iconic 4749 market building, inspired by European train stations with its tall arched windows and carefully detailed all-metal, dark grey painted facade.
The building uses cantilevers to increase its floor plate, and add a bit shelter for the pedestrian walkways. The building uses dramatic bronze colored curving stainless steel window frames and 24’ high by 8’ wide sections of lightly tinted glass to emphasize the vertical. The avoidance of an all mirrored glass facade should be rewarded.
I suggest that Shalom Barnes has created a very classically modern building that reminds me of the landmarks that Mies did in Chicago, and at the Martin Luter King Jr. Library in DC. The recessed two story high glass base will expose some nice street level restaurant spaces, lined with outdoor dining. This building, with 4749, and the new World of Beer, will effectively extend Bethesda Row all the way to Wisconsin, and terminate at the enhanced Farm Women’s Market Plaza.
The roof terrace on level 4, on top of 4749, will overlook the new Capital Crescent Trail Urban Plaza. From the Anthropologie Plaza, the building has a nice narrow profile, and creates a nice foil for the upcoming plaza. Of course the 14th level rooftop will be a great addition to the area, but restricted to use by the buildings tenants. It is very refreshing to me that this building does not include any exposed beige colored precast concrete or terra cotta colored brick, like so much of the city.
I believe that the building will work very well with the much larger 22 and 30 story towers on the Apex site, also designed by Shalom Barnes to emphasize the vertical proportions with two story high elements. This whole trapazoid shaped block, with two very large private owned publicly spaces and the fully public CCT Urban Plaza will create a much needed amount of urban pedestrian plaza space with lawn panels, seating, fountains, shade trees, artwork, transit access, green roofs, all lined by Class A retail spaces. I would expect this block will receive the attention of the design world press as an example of well planned transit oriented urban design.
I further believe that in the future, a single iconic “signature” postcard view of downtown Bethesda will not feature the current Metro Plaza, but will present a photo of the CCT Pedestrian Plaza, with CCT, Metro and Purple Line signage pylons in the foreground and 4747 and 4749 in the background.
Sorry, my bad, it’s Shalom Baranes. That darn autocorrect gets me every time...
As much as you might disagree with Robert’s politics, or his very awkward food reviews, or any part of his personality, he does make an large effort to try to inform folks of news and development in Bethesda. Some believe that this blog, and our chance to make comments, is a valid forum for discussions in a civilized manner. Some others, just seem to come here to criticize or ridicule Robert, and poke a stick at him, trying to provoke a response. I prefer prefer to be in the former group, and try to add to the discussion, especially when it involves my knowledge in the field of architecture and development. I encourage others to weigh in on my comments, and try to continue the discourse.
I offer my opinion on how he might improve this blog, or to correct an error in his reports, and I often disagree with some of his views, but unlike some folks, I do not try to denigrate his character.
@10:06 - Thank you for the architectural details! It can be hard for a layperson to envision the future Bethesda Avenue when everything is still under construction, but your explanation was quite helpful. I hope you're right that the new project will help extend Bethesda Row east toward Wisconsin - it always felt odd that it ended at Woodmont. And I like the two-story building! It is, as you said, reminiscent of an old-fashioned train station.
Great analysis 10:06!
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