Rating the Projects: The Best and the Worst
By Silver Springer • Sep 1st, 2006 • Category: Rating the Projects: The Best and the Worst
here are number four best and worst on their respective lists, Disclaimer.
Developer: Montgomery College\Montgomery County Government
Architect: Smith Group
Property Address: Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Project Specifications:
Gross Floor Area: 58,549 sq\ft
Site: Approx: 0.77 acres
Height: 57.75′ Feet
Parking Spaces: 152
The Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center was designed by the same architectural group of 8021 Georgia Ave and the Discovery Communications building; I don’t understand the inconsistencies in the earnestness of their designs. One project looks passionate while another is bland in execution, perhaps it is the result of different design teams. The Cultural Arts Center is one of the most unconventional and eclectic designs proposed and in a good way. Its goal is expressing the arts in an Arts and Entertainment District. The Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center will anchor the south end of Georgia Ave and make a design statement while doing it. No, it isn’t the best architectural design in the world and it can use some work but the architect understands the importance of architecture as a value to the community and that a performing arts center is a different beast that can’t get lost in the crowd.
The Center boasts a 509 seat music and dance theatre, a second 125 seat studio theatre will be used by the Communications and Performing Arts Department for performances. Classroom space for speech, theatre, film, dance classes, regional theatre groups and community organizations are included in the center.
Since 8021 Georgia Ave is reluctant to add retail space it would be nice to see a restaurant or two at the ground floor of this project. Patrons can go there before or after a show, it would only help in activating the street life and giving patrons somewhere to explore and wait before a show starts.
The project is still in preliminary stages; expect to see more refinement in the overall development as it nears the end of its planning process.
Developer: 1200 BMR Associates, LLC (Perseus Realty, LLC)
Architect: JSA Inc of Silver Spring
Property Address: 1200 Blair Mill, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Project Specifications:
Gross Floor Area: Approx 102,237 sq\ft
Site: Approx: 0.77 acres
Dwelling Units: 96 residential dwelling units including 12 MPDUs
Height: 90′ Feet
Stories: 9
Parking Spaces: 46
Not every project is going to be mixed-use but don’t expect to rank higher than other projects that are if you don’t at least try to make up for it somehow and that’s hard to do. In the case of 1200 Blair Mill, it is the architecture that helped it garner some much needed points. Designed by JSA Inc of Silver Spring the building is decorated in traditional form, red brick masonry and pre-cast stone are quality materials that were noted as an advantage for the project in the site plan. I would have liked to see the building foot print take on the shape of the lot in a traditional design, like the prominent buildings you see at a corner “V†intersection in D.C. It probably didn’t happen because of the ever so precious pock park created through the public use space requirement. Ironically no one will use it and some will not be allowed to use it. I can think of better ways to spend money.
The development is 100% residential with underground parking. The land is zoned CBD-1 so the maximum height allowed is 90’feet which the project met. If this was a mixed use project along with the top grade architecture and sustainable design, it would be on the Best list and outdo many other project
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Why did you call 1200 Blair Mill “Silver Spring Gateway”?
Oops. Hosting images with blogger is a pain, I can neither do it at home or at work. I know it’s a firewall issue and I’m working on it.
>> I would have liked to see the building foot print take on the shape of the lot in a traditional design, like the prominent buildings you see at a corner “V†intersection in D.C. It probably didn’t happen because of the ever so precious pock park created through the public use space requirement. Ironically no one will use it and some will not be allowed to use it. I can think of better ways to spend money.
“I can think of better ways to spend money” is the least that can be said. Another empty dead space blighting the urban environment. A feature that should have led to instant rejection in the site plan review process — instead is touted as an “amenity” and actually encouraged, if not required, by our zoning rules.
Yes, there are so many other uses for the funds that are going towards these useless parks. They could restore and purchase historic buildings, help independent businesses, fix schools, other parks etc.
Do you happen to know what they are doing across Blair Mill Road? There is another development sign where the other autoshop was, but I haven’t figured out what it is going to be, yet.