2018 Year in Review
DESIGN BRIEF | January 2019
MV+A PROJECTS
2018 proved to be an exciting year for MV+A! Projects included new master plans and revitalizations, with multiple projects beginning construction or making progress toward the final stages of construction. Working in mixed-use, commercial, retail, office, and multi-family housing project types, MV+A met its goals to accommodate valued clients, improve pathways for transit-oriented and pedestrian-oriented developments, and enrich the local community by creating gathering places for all to enjoy. Below are a few highlighted projects that the MV+A team made significant progress on in 2018.
Joining the previously finished Whole Foods Market building, additional commercial, retail, and office buildings at Riverdale Park Station were completed in 2018 after nearly a decade of working on the project.
Six new buildings inspired by the local, agrarian vernacular of southeastern Pennsylvania were completed at Spring House Village after a rebuild and repositioning of an established retail site.
Travilah Square Shopping Center was revitalized from its original 1980’s design to include three updated in-line retail buildings with a new Trader Joe’s building anchoring the center.
Faraday Park development has moved forward with the West building currently under construction and the East building undergoing permit review. Faraday Park will create an easily-accessible mixed-use community within walking distance to Wiehle Reston Station.
Halley Rise (formally known as Reston Crescent) continued to take shape. The 36-acre development was able to announce the leasing of an 80,000 square foot Wegman’s in the first block to be built. MV+A is currently in production of construction documents for that building, which will also contain over 300 apartments.
MV+A Staff
Eight employees joined the MV+A team in 2018 – you read that right, eight! More can be read about our new staff in the “People” section of our website. Two additional members were also added to the MV+A family this year. Firm Associate Kalinda Gathinji and her husband, Mwangi, welcomed baby Sarina in July, while Associate Brian Szymanski and his wife, Janice, welcomed baby Marilyn in September. Congratulations to both families!r all to enjoy. Below are a few highlighted projects that the MV+A team made significant progress on in 2018.
Everyone wearing this year’s MV+A holiday gift!
Brian with baby Marilyn and her older brother, Freddie.
In May, Principal Lila Firouzfar retired after almost fifteen years with MV+A. Lila joined the office in 2002 and helped team members and projects grow in transformative ways as an architect, mentor, and leader. She still joins us at office events, like at Principal Jack Hollon’s seventh annual Crab Feast in Baltimore, Maryland! Other firm outings this past fall included the Fun House exhibition at the National Building Museum, a field trip to see MV+A’s work at Riverdale Park Station, and CANstruction’s buildout to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank.
One of Lila’s last on-site visits at Cabin John in Potomac, MD.
Showing three of our new employees from outside the Delmarva area how crab picking is done. Thanks for hosting every year, Jack!
Snarkitecture’s interactive “Fun House” included a backyard pool filled with recyclable plastic balls.
This is the fourth year MV+A has gone to the National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party series of temporary structures inside its historic Great Hall.
Riverdale Park Station’s “Bear Square” park provides a great photo-op with Sir Rulean the bear.
MV+A became Jukebox Heroes for CANstruction’s 2018 “CAN’t Stop the BEET!” theme.
Our constructed jukebox, made out of almost 2,400 cans, included songs like “I CAN See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash and “CAN You Hear Me” by David Bowie.