The Pierce is a 26-story luxury condo building that is part of the Highlands, a 1.2 million-square-foot mixed-use development in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. The high-rise comprises 104 units overlooking the Potomac River across from Georgetown and features several amenities to cater to its luxury target market, including a bi-level boutique fitness facility and a 26th floor outdoor entertainment terrace with views of the D.C. monuments.
“We knew we wanted to position the Pierce in the most prime site, the most forward-looking, with the most expansive view of Georgetown and the monuments,” says Laurence Caudle, principal for architecture firm Hickok Cole.
Anchored by a charcoal color inkspot Norman brick base, the exterior of the Pierce becomes lighter toward the upper floors, culminating with a glass and metal volume Hickok Cole calls “The Lantern,” a feature designed to be visible from afar. To maximize area density, the Pierce and its neighboring apartment tower are combined in some areas, with residents at both buildings having access to a landscaped rooftop and a 65-foot resort-style pool with a custom waterfall feature.
“For the interior, we had this idea that you almost wanted to feel like you were entering a sanctuary, but one that was dedicated to art and culture,” Rhea Valfor, associate principal at Hickok Cole, says. “Every piece of art in the lobby is commissioned for that building and [is made] by a woman artist.”
Throughout the public spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows highlight the art pieces, which are surrounded by neutral finishes. Each unit in the Pierce also features floor-to-ceiling windows, hand-scraped hickory flooring, European lacquered kitchen cabinets with built-in wine refrigerators, and under-cabinet lighting. The bathroom suites feature gray European marble counters, illuminated mirrors, tiled glass enclosed showers, and white lacquered vanities. Select units feature private access elevators.
“We thought the person who would be attracted to living at the Pierce was going to be someone who had appreciation for arts and culture, and their living environment should support that,” Valfor says. “When you have these high-end buildings, people often come in and tear everything out and have a decorator redo it. We wanted [buyers] to rethink that [approach], so the units have everything they need.”
