Page 28 - ArchDC_Summer 2020

Main lobby of 4747 Bethesda Avenue, JBG SMITH reception and meeting space on the mezzanine level,
by ZGF Architects. with living green wall in the background.
Photo © Garrett Rowland
where it is anchored to the neighborhood by an existing on the east end of the building. This articulation showcases the
lower-scale building. double-height retail spaces while providing ample light and
The penthouse of the tallest of the three volumes includes generous floor plates to office tenants above. In addition, the
an outdoor terrace complete with fire pit, plantings, shaded corners of the building are pulled back from its main face, thus
seating, wi-fi capability, and expansive views of Downtown reducing its overall perceived length and mass. On its west side,
Bethesda and beyond. A series of oversized glassy garage doors the building is set back 20 feet from Woodmont Plaza, creating
provides easy flow between the terrace and interior gathering an upper-level terrace that engages with activity in the newly
and event spaces. created public space. This series of carefully sculpted setbacks,
Along Bethesda Avenue, the building cantilevers eight cantilevers, and interlocking volumes helps to break down the
feet over the sidewalk at its second story level, engaging the bulk of the building and create a human-scaled street presence.
streetscape and pedestrians. A similar cantilever is repeated

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