Mahan Rykiel Associates

Full Service Landscape Architecture

Our Services Sectors

Urban Design

Planning and Development

Public Parks and Civic Plazas

International Projects

Mid-Atlantic

Retail and Repositioning

Higher Education

Senior Living

Hospitality

Healthcare

Placemaking

Where nature, artistry,
and urban life converge.
Strathmore Square Phase I & II
Best Viewed Horizontally Best Viewed Horizontally
  • Strathmore Square Phase I&II

    North Bethesda, Maryland
    Snapshot:

    Strathmore Square reimagines transit-oriented multifamily development as a layered landscape of movement, gathering, discovery, and respite. Located between Rock Creek Park, the Strathmore Music Center, and the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station, the project weaves nature, art, and daily life into a welcoming environment where landscape and community intersect. The project includes a civic plaza, two courtyards, a penthouse terrace, eight roof terraces, and cascading residential balconies, creating a sequence of public gathering spaces, shared amenities, and private retreats. Inspired by the geology of Rock Creek Park and Strathmore’s musical heritage, the landscape incorporates water, stone, and native plantings to unify the design. Like a musical composition, each space unfolds through movement and pause, offering moments of connection and exploration.

    Site constraints—including limited soil depth, structural capacity, stormwater requirements, and utilities—became opportunities for innovation. An elevated pool deck provides depth for both pool and soil volumes, supporting plant growth while enriching spatial experience. Integrated stormwater systems and green roofs
    balance drainage, water quality, and runoff. The material palette—dark granite, boulders, wood, and native plantings—reflects the region’s character, creating places that connect to their natural and
    cultural context.