Fall 2020

01. BELTWAY OVERVIEW

01. BELTWAY OVERVIEW

Beltway Plaza Redevelopment

Beltway Plaza Redevelopment – phase 1 received final approval by a unanimous vote of 4 – 0 on September 9, 2021. But we’re not there yet! On November 4, 2021, the opposition filed an appeal to the approval. The next chapter in this community changing redevelopment will be oral arguments by the district council on the grounds of the appeal on January 10, 2022.

02. MANSION CONCEPT

Gatherings at Lake Nona, A Mansion Concept

“There is a growing population of active adults 55 to 75 years old who are looking for a lifestyle which allows them to lock and leave for travel. They want their homes to be low maintenance on a controlled-access property.

They also say they’re looking for the ability to establish relationships with neighbors while they age in place,” Riviello says.

– Jim Riviello, partner and principal at the Martin Architectural Group

Read Full Article here

03. THE GROVE AT NEWARK SITE VISIT

Chevy Chase Lake, Team field trip! A few of our colleagues working on The Grove took a trip down to Delaware to check out all the progress that has been made.

04. LEGO COMPETITION

Here at Martin we love any opportunity for some friendly competition, so when we received our Martin legos we knew we had to do something. Teams were tasked to create their best lego creations and then it was put to a vote.

Congratulations to our first place winners:

Jaime, Jason & Kaitlyn

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

Summer 2020

01. NEW WEBSITE

NEW SEASON, NEW SITE
To celebrate our new website we are offering visitors a complimentary 1-hour charrette to review any building plans you may want another set of eyes on. Submit a contact form to schedule yours today. Offer valid through the end of July.
Kathleen Hogan

Kathleen 

Nicholas Filingeri

Nicholas

Aaron

Melissa Genevie

Melissa

Danielle

Alejandro

Matt

Chris

02. MEET OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBERS!

03. PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Chevy Chase Lake, Maryland

The Chevy Chase Lake mixed-use project is located at the Connecticut avenue light rail stop of Washington DC’s new purple line. The project will feature three buildings of luxury multifamily residential over a retail and grocer base with parking below ground.

04. NUCLEAR GARAGE

Saving high design by digging a deeper hole: Nuclear Garages

“Anyone can come up with high design. Getting it built for the right price. That’s a trick,”

– Dan McCauley, partner and principal at the Martin Architectural Group

Read Full Article here

05. SUMMER HOURS

The Martin Architectural Group will be recognizing summer hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Some staff may not be available after noon on Fridays.

Happy Summer & Happy Fourth of July!

06. DON’T BLAME THE INTERNET FOR KILLING MALLS

Hear from our principal & in-house expert, Drew Romanic, on how malls are being made relevant again!

Read Full Article here

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

The Mansion Concept:

A Design That Withstands The Test of Time

The “Mansion Concept”, first designed by Chuck Harker and Ron Seiboth in the 1990s, has continued to be relevant to this day and will be into the future. So what is the mansion concept? It is a three or four-story wood-framed building of 18 to 30 units with individual garages and serviced by an elevator. The building exterior is designed to look like a large manor home or “Mansion”. This design has been sucessfully built as for-sale condominiums, and as rental apartments. Sites have been planned with as few as two buildings per site and up to ten buildings per site.

The first mansion concept design was for a small home builder in Ohio. Although that initial design was never constructed, two national home builders Centex and Beazer started moving forward with the design a few years later. While Centex was developing several projects in Maryland, the Maryland Division of Beazer used the concept in 7 communities in Maryland over the next 20 years. The concept also took hold with another Beazer division in Northern Virginia, which has two buildings currently under construction in 2023. In addition, many other builders used the mansion concept including Sturbridge Homes in MD, Kopf Construction in OH, Deluca Homes in PA, Sage Management in MD, Khovnanian in NJ, Centex in NJ and VA, Beazer in FL, Caliber Builders in NY, Duffie Companies in MD, Reidman Development Group in NY, Toll Brothers in VA and NC, Centex in SC, and Maryland Management Co. in MD.

Based on Beazer’s success, we were asked to design a “second generation” of the Mansion concept which is now being used by many additional divisions throughout the Southeast and into Texas. Beazer has branded their active adult “Mansion” product as “The Gatherings.”

We have learned that the design of two-bedroom dual owners suites serves a wide range of buyers. Unlike the past, the traditional couple often makes up less than 50% of buyers. Based on demographics and the changing makeup of buyer groups, this “second generation” is very relevant today and in the foreseeable future. We see the Urbanization of the suburbs as a continuing trend, and we anticipate the mansion concept as an integral part of that growth. Please give us a call if you would like to discuss how we can help you develop the de- sired communities of the future.


 ARCHITECTS AND LAND PLANNERS 

The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transitoriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLAN

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

Breckstone Architecture is now part of
The Martin Architectural Group, P.C.

Breckstone-Studio-Logo-Web

Breckstone Architecture

A decades-long stalwart architectural and engineering firm in the Wilmington, Delaware architectural community – is now part of The Martin Architectural Group, expanding their ability to serve existing clients and provide additional services to the local and regional market.

"We are excited to announce that, as of July 3, 2023, Breckstone Architecture has become a studio of The Martin Architectural Group (TMAG), a 34-person land planning and architectural firm based in Philadelphia with satellite offices in New Britain, CT, Baltimore MD, and Coconut Creek, FL.

As we integrate with TMAG, we will maintain and augment their current capabilities in Delaware. While both firms have significant overlaps with residential and commercial projects, we bring the ability to add our historic preservation, industrial, and specialty consulting experience to the team’s capabilities.”

The Martin Architectural Group

Established in 1967, The Martin Architectural Group’s rise to success was initiated by a desire to plan, design, document and deliver the highest quality professional services to the private sector real estate and development industry. Our commitment to client service and design excellence has always remained strong. Through the years, the firm has cultivated a diverse and accomplished portfolio of single and multi-family homes, age-restricted communities, retail and office designs, mixed-use and transit-oriented developments, mall re-positioning, and sustainable projects.

“We are very excited and proud to have the local Wilmington DE team at Breckstone join our growing family of architects and land planners at Martin. We are anticipating great things to come for all as we serve existing and new clients throughout the region.”

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

The Village at waugh chapel:

celebrating years of revolutionary living, shopping & dining

The Village at Waugh Chapel was originally conceived as an MXD-C development by Robert DeStefano (Sturbridge Homes) in order to combine living, shopping, dining and work in one location and maximize density and opportunity as well as create usable open spaces for relaxation and recreation. The Village at Waugh Chapel was a new concept for Anne Arundel County, Maryland in the mid-1990s. The re-zoning, while controversial at the time, was an attempt at envisioning village-style living and change the approach to suburban development in the area. DeStefano, a successful homebuilder in Anne Arundel County proposed this development style and sought approvals to create a new style of living for residents of the region.

Geared toward “active adult” residents, the village was designed as a campus of shared uses, creating zones for retail/restaurant uses, office, and residential buildings. The restaurants, situated around manmade lakes across from the residential buildings also provided an active pedestrian path for access and recreation. There is privacy and separation for the residential occupants, with easy access to the shops and restaurants. Direct access from Crain Highway and Waugh Chapel Road quickly made The Village at Waugh Chapel a destination for daily commuters and gave way to fast lease up to the retail and restaurant components.

The legislated approval required stylization and façade elements to portray “Main Street” elements from architecture reminiscent of the early 20th century “small town” business districts. This Master Development Standard required façade breaks and aesthetic elements to be varied and complementary. The requirement extended to all tenants and uses, mandating that even the restaurant pads stylize their facades to meet the development standards. In 1998 Greenberg Commercial, now Greenberg Gibbons, became a development partner to Sturbridge Homes on the retail, office, and other commercial portions of the development, garnering other investors’ support for the fulfillment of the master-planned community.

The Martin Architectural Group has been fortunate enough to be involved in the Village of Waugh Chapel since the early planning stages in 1996, almost continuously. This responsibility as the master architect required oversight of façade development for all the tenants and coordination of the repositioning of assets over the years to respect and adhere to the master development standards.

Through the years tenants have come and gone, The Marketplace and The Commons have adhered to the changing times, retaining original junior anchors and adding more as well as providing smaller food and service tenants further reinforcing the dining district.

The story of placemaking at The Village at Waugh Chapel continues with Waugh Chapel Towne Center. There are many to thank for the hard work, efforts and creativity to get to this place called The Village of Waugh Chapel. The biggest thanks though go to Robert DeStefano, Greenburg Gibbons Commercial, The Reliable Companies and Bozzuto Development, for the vision and commitment to making the dream become a reality. A true live, work, play; conceived 25 years ago.


 ARCHITECTS AND LAND PLANNERS 

The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transitoriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLAN

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

Ridge Farms Townhomes Over flats offers

traditional neighborhood design

Drew Romanic
Principal & Partner


As part of the South Whitehall Pennsylvania Township Comprehensive Plan approved in 2009, The Ridge, a mixed-use project in the Township incorporates many different housing options to add smart growth in the area. This comprehensive plan provides guidelines for the development of these growth areas to include “village style” mixed-use, created as walkable communities. By preserving open space and developing vertical residential living, some over retail and professional services – the “village style” walkable elements will provide an identity and sense of community anchoring the project. With St. Luke’s Medical Center as one of the main tenants for the mixed-use component, there is a strong foundation for a great combination of restaurants and service providers. The planned open spaces in the village center will give plenty of space for community gatherings and events for all to participate.

The Ridge incorporates many different housing options for the growing area. Several products, being developed by The Martin Architectural Group for Kay Builders and Kay Walbert, LLC are incorporated here: rental apartments over podium parking, rental apartments over retail and office, as well as Townhomes over flats, a for-sale condominium product. This well-imagined mix will offer both rental and ownership options for the community. These product types have been master-planned by the developer in conjunction with Langan Engineering, and Jackson Land Planning group to create a neighborhood town center, having open space, restaurants and offices woven with trails and pathways connecting the residents to the uses while supporting the needs of the surrounding areas. The townhomes over flats offer traditional neighborhood design with rear loaded garages having direct access to the residences and an option for elevator access from the garage to the townhome levels. Rooftop terraces for the townhomes will give breathtaking views of the surrounding Lehigh Valley. With a modern interpretation of traditional details, the facades offer a contemporary aesthetic to the area. The first-floor flats also have direct access to the garages and main entrances that face the street. The flats offer two bedroom / two bath single floor living with open plan living/dining areas. The townhomes are three-bedroom two and a half bath properties having large living and dining areas on the lower level, an option for elevator access from the garage to both living and sleeping levels as well as the rooftop terrace. The rooftop terraces are arranged to provide privacy between the residences and give the opportunity for views of the surrounding Lehigh Valley. With alley-loaded driveways and garages, the main entrances for the townhome residences are set between the garages and identified with porticos

Each level has direct access to a balcony or terrace for outdoor living. These for-sale residences will provide the ability to have simplified living within walking distance of the adjacent neighborhood center, including restaurants and professional services.

Drew Romanic, AIA is a principal at The Martin Architectural Group.


 ARCHITECTS AND LAND PLANNERS 

The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transitoriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLAN

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

Fishtown Lands A Big Catch At Northbank

Dan McCauley
Principal & Partner


Northbank, is a $300 million residential community under development in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia which will include a mix of apartments, condominiums, and townhouses. This development is positioned on thirty acres along the Delaware River.

Several development teams have joined together as the prime developer: including Concordia Group, D3 Real Estate Development, and Res-mark Cos. In addition, national luxury home builder, Toll Brothers, purchased a portion of the site to develop high-end condominiums.

Northbank rooftop terraces offer breathtaking views.

Toll Brothers and The Martin Architectural Group have worked together over the years on condominium buildings, single-family, and townhouse products. The connection runs deep, as Martin principal, Dan McCauley, began his career at Toll Architecture. From the first days running the print room, through drafting houses, to becoming the Studio Leader of a 12-person team responsible for $600 million dollars in construction per year, Dan’s work with the production builder led to a strong contractor-based understanding of design implications.

Toll Brothers reached out to Martin when they decided to bring their high-quality stacked townhomes to the Northbank development. Stacked townhomes can be quite versatile for higher density sites, providing four-story townhomes consisting of two, two-story residences. Martin has designed stacked townhomes for developers in multiple locations, and the understanding of the Toll Brothers’ process was vital to its success. Together this team documented and permit-ted52 individual buildings, providing 104 condominium units, which rounded out the entire Northbank product line. Contemporary elevations with open floor plan concepts and rooftop decks are now commanding $600 thousand as a starting point.

As a community, the development team worked alongside the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. to expand the trail systems for the enjoyment of the waterfront. The location of this site provides a perfect blend of proximity to the center city and neighborhood authenticity. One of the most sought-after communities to live in the country, Fishtown Philadelphia provides walking distance living to Penn’s Landing, The Fillmore small concert venue, the River Casino, and dozens of one-of-a-kind eateries and bars. Center City Philadelphia is less than 5 miles away, and access to New Jersey couldn’t be more convenient.

Northbank rooftop terraces offer breathtaking views.

The Martin Architectural Group proudly worked to make this vision a reality for our client. The success of this development matches our experience with other projects both within urban settings, as well as suburban projects. The connectivity, neighborhood amenities, and authenticity of the designs most often make for the most successful outcomes.

Over Fifty-Five years ago, The Martin Architectural Group started on the premise of providing high-quality designs for home builders. With massive success in that arena, the firm expanded to large density multi-family projects, retail centers, and mall transformations, adding various other sectors, and still, the home builder DNA lives within the firm.

Dan McCauley is partner at Martin Architectural Group.


 ARCHITECTS AND LAND PLANNERS 

The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transitoriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLAN

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

We conducted a study…. kinda



A couple of weeks back we launched a poll on our LinkedIn asking industry professionals what was the first thing that came to mind when they saw “The Martin Architectural Group.” The results are in! Here’s what we learned:

More than 70% of you think of multi-family/mixed use which makes a lot of sense! From duplexes to high rise over retail, multi-family and mixed use account for over 60% of our projects.

The BRIT, CT
The Monarch, MD

23% of people think of mall repositioning. Mall repositioning is our largest growing sector-from razing the entire site, taking an indoor mall from the 70s to a modern open air shopping experience, to surgically removing a dead anchor and introducing apartments.

The Grove At Newark, DE
Waugh Chapel, MD

The remaining two categories had a significant dip with 6% of people thinking of single family/townhomes first! Fun fact- our firm was founded in 1967 to specifically fill a need for home builders of singles and townhouses. With clients from Pulte, Beazer, K.Hovnanian, Lennar, and nearly a hundred local developers, we have designed and documented over 30,000 single family homes and townhouses.

Gibson’s Grant, MD
Cascades Flats, VA

Lastly, less than 1% of industry professionals think of us for land planning and master planning. This was the biggest shock to us- as we perform density studies and land planning for hundreds of sites per year. From single family communities, to challenged multi-family sites to mall or retail center repositioning, our firm has helped plan well over 100,000 acres of development!

Annapolis Towne Centre, MD
Westphalia Towne Centre, MD

We loved learning what leading industry professionals thought of when they heard of TMAG. Interested to learn more about our services?

Contact Us Today!


 ARCHITECTS AND LAND PLANNERS 

The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transitoriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLAN

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

A Message From Our Partners


The beginning of a new year is always a time to reflect on what has been accomplished and establish new goals for the future. We sat down with our principals, Jim Riviello, Drew Romanic, and Dan McCauley, and had them look back at 2021’s triumphs and what they are most excited for in 2022.


Jim Riviello
Jim Riviello, AIA, LEED AP, CGP
Principal & Partner

As you reflect on 2021, what would you say is the firm’s biggest accomplishment? 

2021 was a tough year for everyone as we continued to adjust to limited time working together as a team in the office. I believe it is very important for A+E teams to collaborate in person, however we are definitely adjusting to our current reality. I also would like to note that through our marketing efforts, even with far less face time at events, we welcomed a number of new clients and have seen revenue growth over the previous year.

What is your outlook on 2022, both for the industry and TMAG?

My outlook remains optimistic.  We understand the cost and supply of materials and labor shortages will hold back the homebuilding industry from its potential, however we are seeing a strong interest from our clients to keep moving forward with projects.  

If you could visit any architectural landmark in the world, which would you go see?

I think I would like to go to Dubai and experience all the modern skyscrapers and other wonders that are possible today.  I assume the golf courses in Dubai are amazing also. Then I would go see the great pyramids and soak in those ancient alien spirits. 


Drew Romanic
Drew Romanic, AIA
Principal & Partner

Is there a moment in 2021 that sticks out to you? Any major moments of team collaborations, wins, lessons?

Getting multiple projects from a new client that has placed tremendous trust and confidence in our firm with their vision, as well as returning clients moving forward with projects that we have been involved in for years. We are very lucky and grateful to have a team of professionals, collaborating and committing their time to these clients and projects to make them what they have become.

What big shifts in the space do you predict happening in 2022 and beyond?

The migration to the suburbs and higher density living. People are in love with the idea of city living, but want and feel they need more space around them. The repositioning of suburban properties to include residential living is a robust and aggressive trend that allows a failing mall or neighborhood center to become vibrant and relevant once again. Martin Architectural has been privileged to be involved in many mall and retail site redevelopments and are now enjoying participating in this new vision, replacing a dark space with new vibrancy and energy.

What is your favorite architectural building and have you had an opportunity to visit?

This was difficult – but I select Farnsworth House by Ludwig Meis van der Rohe. I have not had an opportunity to visit. Maybe this year…


Dan McCauley
Dan McCauley, AIA, LEED AP
Principal & Partner

In 2021, what is the time you felt the proudest of the TMAG team? Teamwork, overcoming big challenges, wins, etc.

For me, looking back at all of the great accomplishments of 2021, besides the complete flexibility, tenacity, and resiliency TMAG has shown adapting to our changing circumstances from the pandemic, I felt proud of the TMAG success of projects underway in both the states of Connecticut and Florida.  Connecticut had been a focus for our team to provide multi-family services, and we have multiple projects under design and construction last year, thanks to consistency and perseverance. Florida, a state we had an office in for almost 40 years, continues to shine with new land studies, exceptional multi-family projects, and even civic centers. 

What are you most excited to see in 2022? Both in the industry and for Martin

I’m most excited for the industry to participate in the shifts occurring in the retail and multi-family sectors, primarily the revisioning of shopping centers and declining malls for modern uses.  Mixed use concepts have blurred recently and the challenges of the pandemic opened investors and developers to new ideas on how to use existing developed sites and allow creative teams, such as TMAG to maximize their use and reinvigorate traditionally one use sites.  As far as Martin, I am looking forward to the opening of Chevy Chase Lake in MD.  With three residential buildings, each with ground floor retail, and subterranean parking, the project has been “on the boards” and in construction for a combined 6 years.  It’s a massive $200 million dollar complex adjacent to a new Purple Line station.  This one is a flagship project- I truly cannot wait to see it completed.

What is one architectural landmark that you haven’t visited that you wish to see one day?

That’s easy- The Great Pyramid of Cheops!  Put your mind to these facts: The Great Pyramid, is the oldest and largest, constructed over 5000 years ago!  The building stands alone as the only remaining “Wonders of the ancient world”, all others have been destroyed over time.  The sharpness of the pyramid’s shape, and the simplified concept of a wide heavy base with a decrease in width to height has kept it resilient to massive earthquakes, wartime destruction, and simply gravity.  The fact that it exists as a monument to one man, one Pharoah, and to this day scientists and archeologists attempt to figure out how it was made, tops my list of landmarks to visit.

 ARCHITECTS AND LAND PLANNERS 

The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transit-oriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development. Image of THE BRIT located in New Britain, CT

www.MartinAIA.com • 215.665.1080 • 240 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia

A Glimpse of What’s to come… a look inside the new golden beach civic center project

Issue 54, May/June 2021, Page 16

Golden Beach Civic Center in Miami-Dade County Florida