8001 Woodmont

This large residential site sits at a critical point in the densifying Bethesda community. FXCollaborative's design mediates between the "fast" Wisconsin Avenue frontage—with its large-scale buildings, wide boulevard ambiance and larger stores—and the "slow" Woodmont Triangle neighborhood with its pocket parks, low scale, and lively collection of local restaurants. The Wisconsin façade expresses the flow of the vehicles and activity below, while the Woodmont side features a one-story retail edge clad in local stone topped by a green trellis. A curved volume frames a sloped, green public space and eases the transition between the two contexts and their different urban grids. A portion of the building dramatically bridges over part of the space, creating a civic portal. The underside of the portal is treated with a tessellated reflective ceiling that will create an urbane landmark. The project is designed to meet LEED Silver standards and will incorporate a green roof, micro-turbines, and a solar-responsive façade.