In the early 2000’s, the City and Federal Realty Investment Trust decided to remove the shopping mall that dominated the center of Rockville, MD. The mall was built in the 1970’s, when the common practice in urban design was to create a place convenient to drive to, but it has since become obsolete. Federal Realty felt that the location was a good site for a mixed-use, urban place that could attract new businesses and clienteles into the area.
The Investment Trust spent years building a coalition with the City of Rockville, Montgomery County, and RD Rockville to develop something that would benefit the entire community. They concluded that a Town Square were businesses and people could interact with one another was ideal, and Street-Works Studios was brought on to design the Master Plan.
Row of shops and apartments in Rockville Town Square.
The Rockville Town Square incorporates both commercial and residential property across 675,000 square feet of real estate and 983 parking spaces. The Square includes a public library, a business innovation center, a Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts, shops and restaurants, a grocery, a drug store, and more than 600 residential units. It is also well within walking distance to the Rockville METRO Stop, providing easy access to Public Transportation and reducing the visitor’s dependence on the car.
The introduction of the Town Square has radically changed central Rockville, and it later received the 2017 Design Excellence Award
Photo above: View of the Square.
Similar Projects
Granary Row #thisisCNU
Salt Lake City, Utah
The width of streets in Salt Lake City are legendary. According to a popular story, Brigham Young, who led the Mormons in founding the city, wanted a team of oxen to be able to turn around in the street with room to spare.
Katrina Cottage, Gulf Coast #thisisCNU
Gulf Coast, United States
When Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, devastating historic communities across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, aid for the region arrived in all shapes and sizes from across the US.
Ubuntu in Umbumbulu
Ethekwini Municipality, South Africa
When a student at Andrews University returned to his native South Africa to design a low-cost house for a needy family, his journey sparked an eight-day public charrette and design process in eThekwini Municipality—about 25 miles from the city cen