On February 20, 2026, the project team celebrated the topping out of The Dax, a new 76,000-square-foot residential building at 4725 Cheltenham Drive in Bethesda, Maryland. Located just a few blocks from the Bethesda Metro Station, the project rises on the former Midas auto shop site, transforming an underutilized commercial parcel into thoughtfully designed housing in a highly walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood.
Image courtesy of Eric Colbert & Associates
Designed by Eric Colbert & Associates and constructed by Eichberg Construction for Community Three, The Dax is a mid-rise residential building that will deliver over 100 new units to the Bethesda market. The concrete structure, placed by Miller & Long, reaches approximately 90 feet in height and reflects a broader shift toward efficient, urban infill development that prioritizes proximity to transit, neighborhood connectivity, and contextual design.
Reaching topping out marks the completion of the building’s structural frame and a major milestone in the construction process. The project replaces a single-story auto service use with a modern residential building that strengthens the streetscape and contributes to the continued evolution of this corridor.
SK&A Structural Engineers is serving as Structural Engineer of Record for The Dax. Team members Walid Choueiri, PE, SE, Naina Bhanot, EIT, LEED AP, and Megan Dulmaine, EIT attended the topping out celebration to mark the milestone alongside project partners, including Ed Patrick (ECA) and Yuri Blazer (Community Three), pictured here. Sarah Gallis, PE, SE is the Project Manager and has been instrumental in bringing the building to this point.
We look forward to seeing The Dax progress through the next phase of construction and ultimately welcome residents to this new addition to Bethesda.
