The strong industrial design touchpoints at The Copley at Crown—a 128-unit condo building envisioned by Lessard Design in Gaithersburg, Maryland—not only evoke the look of a quintessential adaptive-reuse development but aim to replicate it as closely as possible, all while harmonizing its eclectic front with the existing feel of the neighborhood.
The factory brick and mortar exterior lays the groundwork for the industrial aesthetic, framing turn-of-the-century hallmarks like oversized windows, brick detailing, and hand-painted exterior signage with a washed-paint finish. The elevator columns are reflected on the exterior as “chimney-stack” shapes, completing the factory look.
Living spaces are divided between three buildings raised one story above street level, over the entrance to a parking garage with secured bike storage and spaces for motorcycles and EV charging stations. A series of community courtyards occupy the promenade spaces between buildings, providing residents with lounge areas, grilling stations, fireplaces, and landscaped gardens. Pedestrian stairways lead from these courtyards to the surrounding Downtown Crown mixed-use community, including a grocery store about 100 feet from the development and a Starbucks, a wine store, and a gym across the street.
Inside, the Copley’s units range from one-story, one-bedroom units to two-story, two-bedroom units with dens. Each one features wide-plank wood floor in the kitchen and living-dining areas, stainless steel Whirlpool kitchen appliances, and two rectangular sinks and a rain showerhead in the master bath. Most also have outdoor spaces attached, either as balconies from the upper floors or courtyard patios for units immediately above the garage.
Because project constraints required that the parking garage be built first, all three of the development’s buildings had to be built at once, rather than phased. Developers Streetscape Partners and Westbrook Properties were able to alleviate some of the resulting financial strain by building the entire project structure as required and then phasing the application of the final finishes over a 12-month period.
