If you’re familiar with the Washington, DC metropolitan area, then you’re at least aware of the concentration of offices, apartments, retail and restaurants in downtown Bethesda, MD. For the first time in over ten years a major office building has opened in the area, at 7550 Wisconsin Avenue. It’s “new”, but not entirely new.
Originally built in 1964, 7550 Wisconsin was operated by the US General Services Administration and used to house offices associated with the National Institutes of Health. The building sat empty for 8 years until it was purchased at auction from the GSA in 2010. Over the next couple of years it was given a major makeover both inside and out, most notably getting an exterior glass “curtain wall” to reinvigorate the formerly drab government building-style exterior.
In addition to the exterior appearance 7550 Wisconsin got lots of technical upgrades to make it more “green”, including a green roof with space for client use, fixtures that should result in 35% water savings, facilities for those wishing to bike to work and lots more window space to improve sunlight.
7550 Wisconsin Avenue is located one block north of the Bethesda Metro station, making it easy to access the National Institutes of Health and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (one Metro stop to the north) and downtown DC (a few minutes ride to the south). The building is about two miles south of the Wisconsin Avenue exit off of I-495, the Beltway. Downtown Bethesda is a short drive from some very desirable neighborhoods such as Chevy Chase, Woodmont, and Pooks Hill.
