All three winners of the 2025 Montgomery Planning Design Excellence Awards were engineered by SK&A, reflecting the firm’s continued role in shaping Montgomery County’s most impactful and design-forward developments. The biennial program celebrates outstanding architecture, urban design, and placemaking that elevate the public realm and improve daily life through thoughtful, community-centered design. The awards were presented at Celebrate Design 2025 on October 16 in Bethesda, where three additional SK&A projects were honored with AIA-PV awards.
Strathmore Square – Gwen Marcus Wright Design Excellence Award
Architects: Torti Gallas + Partners; TenBerke | Master Plan: Perkins Eastman; Torti Gallas + Partners | Owner: Fivesquares Development; WMATA | Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Located adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station, Strathmore Square transforms a former Metro parking lot into a vibrant, arts-connected neighborhood that seamlessly links the Strathmore Music Center campus to surrounding residential areas. The mixed-use community introduces new buildings, shared streets, and a 1.25-acre central park that encourages walkability and cultural engagement. Designed around the principles of placemaking and sustainability, the project establishes a strong civic framework for future phases of this master-planned development.
Sophia Bethesda – Design Excellence Award for Exceptional Housing
Architects: Maurice Walters Architects; David M. Schwarz Architects | Owner: Duball, LLC | Contractor: HITT Contracting
Located in downtown Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, The Sophia blends timeless architectural detailing with contemporary urban living. The 276-unit residential building and its 12,000 square feet of ground-level retail reinforce Bethesda’s pedestrian-friendly core, while a landscaped paseo and publicly accessible open spaces strengthen neighborhood connectivity. With classic proportions, refined masonry, and carefully crafted facades, the design complements Bethesda’s architectural heritage and contributes to the area’s evolving urban character.
7200 Wisconsin Avenue Plaza – Merit Award for Placemaking
Architect: LandDesign | Owner: JBG SMITH | Contractor: Balfour Beatty Construction
At the intersection of Wisconsin and Bethesda Avenues, 7200 Wisconsin Avenue Plaza reimagines an underutilized space into a vibrant, flexible public gathering area that enhances the pedestrian experience in downtown Bethesda. LandDesign’s transformation integrates terraced seating, accessible pathways, landscape features, and lighting to create a people-centered plaza that supports daily use and community events while contributing to the vitality of the surrounding urban corridor.
About the Awards
Hosted by Montgomery Planning in partnership with the AIA Potomac Valley Chapter, the biennial Design Excellence Awards celebrate projects that demonstrate outstanding design quality, sustainability, and contributions to the public realm across Montgomery County. Learn more: https://montgomeryplanning.org/montgomery-planning-announces-winners-of-the-2025-design-excellence-awards/
