The Royal Treatment

The Royal Treatment

The Earl

Named after the Earl of Arlington, this 333-unit, two-building multifamily development seeks to attract Arlington’s two most influential market groups. Distinct Rain and Wind design concepts influence everything from amenity selection to art and materials, differentiating The Earl as a residence fit for royalty—or trendsetting Virginians.

A big challenge was identifying the ideal amenity programming for each space plan and design concept. The resulting design establishes Rain for a younger demographic, incorporating social and entertainment-related amenities. Silver finishes bring the Rain concept to life in the lobby’s custom-designed crystal raindrop chandelier and double-height rainscreen, as well as the fitness center’s custom water droplet mural.

Local artists and fabricators were engaged to achieve the vision for the buildings’ many custom pieces. Royal-inspired artwork and metallic embellishments tie both concepts to the overarching brand identity. In support of the team’s shared core values, curated artwork is inclusive in subject matter to represent all people and cultures.

In contrast to its entertainment-driven neighbor, Wind targets right-sizers with amenities for independent, quiet activities. Texture, natural materials, and imagery add depth to the Wind concept, including cloud paintings, windmill-inspired room partitions, hanging mobiles, and sculptural sand ripple wallpaper.

Three unit styles were developed to meet the varying demographic spatial needs. Rain units capture the quintessential millennial taste with contemporary finishes and bold statement walls. Wind units lean traditional with a neutral palette and sleek upgrades like tiled restroom vanity walls. All units share impressive views, spa-inspired bathrooms, and entertainment kitchens with hooded ranges and wine refrigerators appealing to the tastemaking status both demographics share.

Luxury amenities distributed across the two buildings are shared among all residents, with a dedicated rooftop, mailroom, and naturally-lit fitness center in each. The development also provides co-working and conference spaces, complete with video-conferencing capabilities for today’s hybrid worker.

Early collaboration with the base building and landscape architects proved essential to the success of the design, allowing for coordination of ground floor slab levels and ramp locations to maximize public spaces for a cohesive interior design. We also worked closely with the GC to ensure the schedule and budget weren’t impacted by COVID supply chain issues, beginning the FF+E process a year early in anticipation of delays and adapting to substitute impacted materials and fixtures.

Despite delivering during the pandemic in one of the area’s most competitive markets, this regal residence celebrated near-full occupancy of both buildings within six months of opening as well as a sale to a new owner prior to completion—achieving our client’s ultimate goal well ahead of schedule.

Location

Clarendon, VA

Client

Lincoln Property Company

Partners

Architect: WDG Architecture, PLLC
GC: John Moriarty & Associates
Furniture: MOI
Photographer: Ron Blunt

Size

Total: 415,000 SF
Amenities: 14,730 SF
Units: 333

Services

Interior Design

Expertise

Lifestyle, Multifamily