20A — February 19 - March 12, 2021 — Retail Development Reimagined — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
R etail D evelopment R eimagined
By Susan Ciaverelli Saving high design by digging a deeper hole
A
rchi tects are of ten thought of as ivory tower thinkers, design-
ton, DC. The project consists of 530 residential units in three buildings above retail and subterranean parking. “It’s nice to work on a project from design to completion, but this one presented us with a unique challenge: to bring the project to fruition on budget without changing the original design,” says Martin’s project manager Scott Hartner. The Ma r t i n t eam was brought on board after years of initial designs and planning with the developer, its part- ner, and the municipality. As designs progressed, the project was $20 million over its $120
million budget. No one wanted to change the original concept, least of all the owners and developer The Bozzuto Group. “Projects of this scale and com- plexity will always face challeng - es,” says Steve Knight, principal of David M. Schwarz Architects. “Design and construction for Chevy Chase Lake have taken place during a period of notable cost escalation, so creative cost control was an important part of the process throughout.” Among the project’s design complexities was its trapezoi - dal footprint and underground garage. The original garage design averaged 471 feet per parking space, because of its un- conventional shape. The weight of landscaping and emergency vehicle traffic above the garage outside of the building footprints required additional structural components and waterproofing. While the three building de- signs couldn’t be altered, the garage was fair game, so Mar- tin’s team “blew it up,” earning it the nickname “The Nuclear Ga- rage.” They started from scratch, simplifying the shape into a rectangle and adding a third subterranean level to recoup lost space. Then they did the hard work of getting approval from the original designer, and geotechnical, civil and structural engineers. With the team’s buy- in, Martin presented the new garage design to the owner, developer, and contractor. By changing to amore efficient grid design, reducing the need for waterproofing, and lessening the structural loads, the new ga- rage saved $4.5 million. Overall, the entire design team along with Martin’s value engineering saved nine to ten million dollars in construction costs. President of Bozzuto Con- struction Mark Weisner says, “It is creative thinking like this and a lack of staunch ego that allows for a true team approach to the design process.” Bozzuto’s Weisner adds, “When I think about Martin Architectural, it is their will- ingness, and I would even say eagerness to be challenged that comes to mind. Through- out their design process they want to know if what they are providing makes the most sense for the client in regard to design aesthetic, function, maintainability, and overall upfront and long-term cost.” Susan Ciaverelli is a free- lance writer based in Balti- more, Maryland. MAREJ
ing glass sky- scrapers and high end neo- t r ad i t i ona l communities. But sav i ng money? Not often. “ A n y o n e can come up
Susan Ciaverelli
with high design. Getting it built for the right price. That’s a trick,” says Dan McCauley, partner and principal at The Martin Architectural Group. Working with design archi-
Courtesy of Bozzuto Construction Co.
Chevy Chase Lake
tect David M. Schwarz, Martin came on as architect of record, responsible for documentation
and completion of the high end, mixed-use Chevy Chase Lake project in suburban Washing-
ARCHITECTS AND LAND PLANNERS
The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transit- oriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLAN
www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
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