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The cornerstone is in place for McLean’s downtown revitalization effort, says Jan Zachariasse, president and CEO of Waterford Development and developer of The Palladium at McLean. The Palladium, an award-winning condominium project, is an integral component of the plan to bridge private spaces with public places in the heart of McLean.
Baltimore sculptor Rodney Carroll designed Oasis, the spectacular water sculpture in the center of The Palladium’s tranquil Civic Green where area residents linger after visiting retail stores or enjoying a walk. “The Civic Green has become an outdoor center of cultural expression in McLean,” Zachariasse says. The mixed-use environment, including 10,000 square feet of retail, 6,500 square feet of office spaces, and 69 luxury residences at The Palladium, is “best of show,” Zachariasse says, for the downtown area.
Delta Associates, a real estate research and advisory firm, recently awarded The Palladium the Best Mid-Atlantic Condominium Project at its annual Mid-Atlantic Apartment and Condominium Industry Awards for Excellence. This award is based on sales price, location, overall design, and marketing, among other criteria. “This is one of only 10 awards in the condo market presented in the Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia areas,” Zachariasse says.
“The Palladium is truly an individual boutique condominium project,” the developer adds, offering residents 35 different floor plans ranging from 1,500 to more than 2,700 square feet. Private elevator access, two-sided balconies, expansive living spaces, spacious closets, and luxurious bathrooms are among the special features of the building. “We analyzed what customers needed and then designed the building,” he says. “We custom designed for our residents.”
“We thought of everything,” Zachariasse adds, including a conference room, an exercise room with personal earphones and TVs, a private training area, and yoga and karate classes. The lounge has a fireplace, quiet reading corners, a kitchen bar area, and a billiards room. Carlyn and Company decorated the elegant marble lobby, which offers a personalized concierge desk.
Interiors include up to 12’ ceilings, solid wood doors, maple or Brazilian cherry floors, three-piece crown moldings, and a choice of traditional or contemporary finishes in the kitchens and bathrooms. Home buyers are coming here from larger homes or from other countries, Zachariasse says. “They’re drawn to boutique-style living in private, individual residences rather than a high rise.”
A Modern Approach in Bethesda
As the gateway to downtown Bethesda, Trillium Bethesda was designed to take in the views, including green spaces, of this vibrant city. “The site drives the design,” says Len O’Donnell, president and CEO of Patrinely Group, developer of Trillium Bethesda. Residences offer corner rooms, multiple views, magnificent interior spaces, and gathering areas. It’s designed for the buyer looking for a change in lifestyle; maybe an empty nester wanting to leave the big house behind for added mobility, O’Donnell adds.
Three separate towers designed for an intimate feel include condos ranging from a one-bedroom unit to a condo with more than 3,000 square feet. The sales gallery shows an actual kitchen and bathroom so potential buyers can see what they’re getting, O’Donnell says. The contemporary kitchens include Snaidero cabinetry as well as Sub-Zero and Miele appliances. Bathrooms are oversized with enclosed showers and marble flooring.
Part of the process of developing Trillium Bethesda was finding a way to contribute to the community, O’Donnell says. Patrinely Group has donated 2,000 square feet of space to an artists’ corner managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership. “It’s essential that it’s used as working studios,” he says, with views of artists at work in the courtyard.
Bethesda is an 18-hour location, O’Donnell adds, that now offers the elegant and efficient Trillium Bethesda.
Southern Exposure in Columbia Heights
Verona Parc in Columbia Heights offers not only bright views, but also plenty of entertaining areas inside and outside the residences. The penthouse unit features a 760-square-foot private rooftop terrace as well as an additional balcony off the living room. This Columbia Heights condo also features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an office/sunroom.
Among the additional special features of the building are the common areas designed by FORMA Design Inc. Different levels of drop ceilings in the lobby, a slanted wall to accent the mailboxes, pendant lighting, and glass railings along the staircases create an energized entry to the building. “The shapes eliminate a boxy feeling in the lobby,” says Andreas Charalambous, principal of FORMA Design Inc. “It’s a play on how orthogonal shapes interact with the architecture.” Terrazzo tiles create a seamless connection of the lobby’s two levels.
For the interior spaces, Charalambous added a sectional sofa, coffee table, and leather chair from Theodore’s, a drop-leaf dining table from Design Within Reach, lamps from Illuminations, and an area rug from Jessitt-Gold. Artwork from the Mediterranean Color Field series by Andreas Charalambous decorates the interior walls. FORMA Design Inc. also worked with the base building architect, Eric Colbert & Associates, on the interior finishes and lighting of the units.
Condo Conversions in Alexandria and Oakton
Established communities, such as EOS twenty-one and The Four Winds at Oakton – condo conversion projects in Virginia, offer amenities that can be enjoyed immediately after moving in. At EOS twenty-one, a coffee bar, pools, fitness center, convenience store, and daycare center are already in place and ready for use. At The Four Winds at Oakton, an Asian-inspired garden, spa and fitness center, and outdoor pool are part of the package.
Inside EOS twenty-one, residents will find large balconies, upgraded appliances, and new cabinetry and carpeting. The Four Winds at Oakton offers the option to install bamboo flooring. These Oakton floor plans, in both mid-rise and garden-style buildings, feature designer lighting and kitchens with granite counters, maple cabinets, and deluxe appliances.
“Orion Residential provides not just a community, but a lifestyle,” says Dan Gumbiner, president and CEO of Orion Residential. “The Four Winds at Oakton and EOS twenty-one both offer affordable homes in wonderful locations. The notion that you have to pay more to live near the Metro is a thing of the past with these communities,” he adds.
