Comments on Company HQ creates engaging urban design in Silver Spring - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by sam louie

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:45 EDT

Great architecture but UT's construction company DPR is violating Montgomery County ordinance and defying the authorities to write citations regularly. We who live in the immediate area are being subjected to high noise levels day and night. DPR only cares about collecting that paycheck.

Comment by Credit where Credit's due

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:37:24 EDT

The plaza was designed by the landscape architecture firm Oehme van Sweden over the course of the 5 years that the buildings were in design and construction. The inclusion of anti-skating measures was considered but would have seriously compromised the purity of the forms in the plaza and were rejected by the owners who intended to have the plaza attended by security. Here's hoping it's not soon destroyed as those benches are not easily replaced.

Comment by Elli Davis

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:56:12 EDT

I have visited the downtown Silver Spring recently and I have to say that it is really beautiful. The view of the United Therapeutics HQ caught my attention immediately and I didn't even notice the the windowless side facing Colesvill that Eliza mentioned.

Comment by Canaan

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:25:46 EDT

Frankly I'm surprised they didn't put up those anti-skating devices that I see at new plazas and such that prevent tricks being done. As a developer I'd fear less from the skate than a skaters parent who would sue me after their kid gets injured by screwing up a trick on my plaza.

Comment by yrb

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:10:27 EDT

@Cyrus

No sex in your community?

Comment by Bianchi

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:06:32 EDT

ha!!

Comment by oboe

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:00:21 EDT

@Bianchi,

New meaning to the phrase "X Games"...

Comment by dan reed!

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:51:44 EDT

Just go to Freedom Plaza after dark. You'll see things you thought never possible with two consenting people and a pair of skate trucks.

Comment by Bianchi

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:45:01 EDT

@oboe, indeed, "meet the new boss, same as the old boss". However I do wonder if the the sex that Cyrus thinks skateboarding encourages among youths is done while skatebaording? Talented youths!

Comment by oboe

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:13:13 EDT

@Bianchi,

That all sounds great, but then, after, holding out for a footloose hero, the skaters, rock & rollers, and dancing teens will overturn the social order, and we'll be back to square one. We've seen this movie before.

Comment by Eliza

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:09:00 EDT

Aha. That explains it. We were kind of shocked that they would put so much effort into the rest of the building, and then leave that side so blank. So it isn't their fault... it is The Law.

Comment by Bianchi

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:32:59 EDT

@Cyrus, you forgot rock-n-roll.

Comment by Cyrus

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:01:58 EDT

Its a shame that the thugs that comprise the local skateboard community are already destroying this beautiful plaza. Instead of embracing skateboarding as a "sport" by building dedicated skate parks in our valuable open spaces and glorifying immature adults such as "Sk8ter Mom" we should be banning the sale of skateboards and accessories from local stores and encouraging young adults to pursue less destructive hobbies. Skateboarding encourages local youth to pursue drugs alcohol violence and sex that should not be part of our community. It is a shame county leaders are embracing this destruction of our wonderful community.

Comment by Redline SOS

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:13:23 EDT

Do they incorporate retail on the ground floor or is it only office space?

If it's just office space, regardless of the plaza, you just have more dead space in Silver Spring (see Discovery Building).

I'll have to check this out tomorrow after the farmers market.

Comment by jnb

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:51:43 EDT

You'll definitely need to cross your fingers on the redevelopment of the parking garage. The County DOT owns and operates the garages, and placemaking is not exactly high on MCDOT's list of priorities.

Comment by dan reed!

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:46:22 EDT

Eliza,

I know exactly what you're talking about. That side of the building sits on the property line - there's a parking garage next to it at the corner of Colesville and Spring - so they legally can't put any windows there in the event a building would replace the parking garage and block it.

Hopefully, we will see the parking garage redeveloped with an actual building so you'll have more than a blank wall to look at.

Comment by Eliza

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:38:29 EDT

While the side facing Cameron Street may be beautiful, the side facing Colesville could use some work. It is basically a huge blank wall, with a giant neon sign with their name and logo. It dominates the view from my balcony, and frankly I wish I had something else to look at. It took us months to realize that this building might be something more than just a giant, windowless block, since that is what it appears to be from the other side. Considering that Colesville is a more heavily traveled street, both on foot and by vehicle, would it be too much to ask for a window or something on the other side of the building to keep it from being an eyesore for everyone approaching or viewing from the Colesville side?