Friendship Commons Multifamily 1

The building mass is split into two volumes to negotiate a 20-foot grade change, stepping down toward the residential context. This shift is expressed through complementary facade strategies: the lower, western volume draws from the early 20th-century character of Chevy Chase while the upper, eastern volume references the former 1957 modernist headquarters with a contemporary interpretation of its structural grid and tonal palette. Two carved courtyards further break down the mass, introducing light and air to residents and the public realm. Across the facade, a composition of bays, balconies, and vertical elements reinforces a finer-grain, residential scale.

At the ground level, active uses—including unit entries, retail, and shared amenities such as a community pool—animate the street edge and strengthen the pedestrian experience. The building is integrated into a network of public open spaces, including a 40-foot multimodal promenade, a grand stair garden, pedestrian mews, and neighborhood parks, extending the project’s role beyond a single building to a connective piece of the larger redevelopment.