JOULE
The “L” shaped site is located 2 blocks from the VA Square rail station in the vibrant Arlington Metro
corridor (3 rail stops from Washington DC), has a bus stop in front with several bus routes and is walkable to shops, workplaces and community facilities at the Southeast corner of the Arlington Arts and Culture district. The corner of the site is highly visible on an inflection of the main boulevard. This is a Brownfield site is in a transitional area - with a dry cleaning shop and adjacent gas station with an uncertain future, surrounded by lackluster 1930’s-50’s 1-2 story development.
Phase 1
• 8 story – 85 extended stay DUs with Hotel services and retail on the ground floor. The building is a
counterpoint between a rectangular brick volume/foil and a metal elliptical tower addressing the important corner. Shared parking is required by the County on the ground floor.
Phase 2• Tranquility garden in corner of “L”. Phase 1: The primary concept is to create a contemporary urban corner/entry threshold to the Arts district and contemporary units using exposed structure (concrete) and mechanical systems with lots of light, clean details and wood floors contrasted with white walls. The metal elliptical tower is deconstructed -stepping
down toward the single family homes across the street - at a vertical/horizontal inflection at the main
boulevard entry to the arts district. The corner metal elliptical tower‐ is formed by a transformation of the building’s inserted metal balconies into metal elliptical balconies surrounding the brick pier and glass core ‐ is emphasized by its contrast to the brick rectangular volume/foil At night the corner elliptical tower is transformed into a lantern by the lights at its core. The elliptical balconies encroach into the setbacks thus maximizing their presence and living space. The metal balcony guard rails are composed of horizontal bars which obscure views from the busy street below to the balconies thus creating a comfortable semi-private outdoor space while being open to views straight out from the balcony.
A pedestrian street is created in the rear with six small art studios fronting it - extending the theme of the arts district and shielding it from parking. The Brownfield site was cleaned up and earned 25 LEED points managed by Arlington County.• 1 and 2 bedrooms; • 750 – 2100 sf/unit • 126,000gsf • 102 garage parking spaces • 1700 SF art studios on ground floor • 3000 SF café and fitness center on ground floor • Raw land costs: $53,000/unit • Developed land costs: $85,000/unit • Total Development Costs: $239/GSF Phase 2: Tranquility garden at inside corner of the building with an opening to the street/sidewalk revealing a fountain and pool.
1. The project is intended to be site/time sensitive and brings a strong contemporary
presence/threshold and new life to a lackluster part of the arts district on a difficult site. The
project was enthusiastically embraced by the community and County Government.
2. It has gained National design recognition from various design organizations
3. The project is economically successful: The occupancy rate has been consistently close to 100% It
was sold at one point for the highest price per unit on the mid-Atlantic per Washington Business
Journal.
4. It has cleaned up a Brownfield site and is environmentally friendly.
5. The project provides lots of exterior living space and gardens including: roof garden, 7th floor
terrace, balconies with regional views and views of tree tops and Washington DC monuments. .In
addition the project provides a new urban frontage at the new rear pedestrian street.
6. The project is intended to provide comfortable, efficient, open, light filled units with exposed
systems/materials.
7. The project intentionally departs from the thinking/process of building trends in
the area that imitate buildings from the past or try to create the artificial image of
an accidental accretion of buildings over time, but instead relates to the modern,
urban context of the Arlington metro corridor
Awards:
-BEST MID-RISE (5-8 STORIES) 2009 FINALIST - PILLARS OF THE INDUSTRY AWARD –
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
-THE DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2008 AND 2007 FINALIST- TRANSIT ORIENTED CATEGORY
By Multi-Housing News (MHN)
-EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION 2007 – CERTIFICATE OF MERIT by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Metropolitan Washington and Virginia Chapters