Wednesday, October 07, 2020

Shattered glass at Bethesda Avenue office building (Photos)


Shattering or falling glass continues to be a minor issue at recently-constructed buildings in downtown Bethesda. I have not seen any panels fall at the new 4747 Bethesda Avenue office building. But this is at least the second time I have noticed shattered glass panels at the lobby entrance.






2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those windows of the 4747 Bethesda office building have been broken for 3 months now. The large one near the service entrance was hit by a tall truck backing in. Seems like the use of expensive structural glass at that corner was a bad idea. They have replaced the bollards with much larger versions, but not the glass yet.

I still contend that the nearby glass vestibule is a dangerous accident waiting to happen. Clear unmarked glass sides, extending out from the building into the walkway. Very easy for someone on a bike, swerving to avoid a pedestrian, to not see the glass until the last moment. At least put some big planters and seasonal flowers flanking the vestibule.

The same designers apparently also came up with the idea for the plaza at the 7200 building, where stepped seating, adjacent to real steps, is unprotected and unmarked. Very easy to miss when walking or on a bike, and take a big tumble. They currently have blue cones to warn folks of the dangerous design, assuming they are adding some barriers or guardrails.

Anonymous said...

@1:25 - It always amazes me when I see poor design. It never occurred to anyone who's paid to do this that clear glass on a walkway is a bad idea or that glass near a service entrance is a bad idea? Same goes for the plaza at the 7200 building. These ideas were bad on paper and should have been fixed then.

You should report the vestibule design issue to the Department of Permitting Services: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DPS/divisions/commercial/index.html