In the News

The Sophia: Exceptional Urban Living in Bethesda

A Montgomery Planning Design Excellence Feature

Montgomery Planning highlights The Sophia, the winner of the 2025 Design Excellence Award for Exceptional Housing. This blog post explores how the mixed-use residential tower enhances downtown Bethesda’s urban fabric through thoughtful architecture, pedestrian-friendly design, and sustainable urban presence.

The Kendrick Featured on Spectrum News 1

Addressing housing needs in Hamilton, NY

Spectrum News 1 covers the opening of The Kendrick, a 41-unit mixed-use development created to support Colgate faculty, staff, and local residents. The segment features interior footage and commentary from MWA Principal Maurice Walters on the project’s design and purpose.

Rendering of a modern mixed-use apartment building with a brick facade, multiple large windows, and retail spaces on the ground floor. Trees line the sidewalk, with pedestrians and bicycles on the street.

Zoning Commission Approves 230-Unit Development At Brookland Metro Station

901 Monroe Street, in the works for years at the Brookland Metro station, received a key approval on Thursday.

The DC Zoning Commission approved the plans from Horning and The Menkiti Group for a 230-unit apartment building at 901 Monroe Street NE (map). The project, designed by Maurice Walters Architect, will feature a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, as well as 54 parking spaces.

Low-angle view of a tall beige apartment building with blue sky background, with a sign reading 'SOPHIA' at the bottom and a Montgomery Planning Design Excellence Awards 2025 badge in the top left corner.

Sophia Bethesda wins this year's Design Excellence Award for Exceptional Housing

Montgomery Planning announces winners of the 2025 Design Excellence Awards

We’re honored that Sophia Bethesda has been recognized with a Design Excellence Award for Exceptional Housing. Designed to bring warmth, craftsmanship, and enduring design to the heart of Bethesda, Sophia Bethesda reflects our belief that thoughtful housing enriches both daily life and the urban fabric.

City street scene with a large modern beige building, red brick historic building with a tower, trees, flagpoles with American flags, cars, pedestrians, and a crosswalk under a clear blue sky.

Downtown Office Conversion Starts Work

A Dupont Circle office-to-residential conversion has started construction after it closed on its debt financing last week.

Duball secured a $54.5M loan from Bethesda-based EagleBank for its 161-unit conversion of the historic Longfellow Building at 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW. The loan documents were filed in D.C. deed records on Thursday.

New ‘Loj’ Design Revealed as Construction Continues Across Campus, Village

Campus construction continues to progress as Colgate University moves closer to the vision outlined in the Third-Century Plan, which launched in 2019.

Among the updates includes changes to the design of 70 Broad Street, also known as “the Loj” by its residents, who are largely part of Colgate’s Outdoor Education program. The University revealed the changes in an article posted to its website Feb. 3, which highlighted the vital role of construction in transforming the college.

A modern multi-story brick building on a city street with people walking, cars parked, and a sky with clouds overhead.

18-22 Utica Street to to be Razed, Replaced with Mixed-Use Building

Demolition to begin in February, followed by expected 21-month construction period

A new four-story, mixed-use building, designed by Maurice Walters Architect, will replace the existing 18–22 Utica Street buildings in the Village of Hamilton.