Mahan Rykiel Associates Wins Capital Region APA Award for Mosaic Plan

Mosaic is a mixed –use development in Fairfax County, Va., and a pilot project for LEED Neighborhood Development.

Mahan Rykiel Associates (MRA) www.mahanrykiel.com, a Baltimore-based landscape architectural, urban design and planning firm is the recipient of the "Outstanding Neighborhood or Small Area Plan" from the National Capital Area American Planning Association. The award was presented on November 10, 2012 at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

MRA developed schematic design through construction documents for this 31-acre mixed-use development in Fairfax County, Va. Partly infill, the project includes retail, residential, office, hospitality and a neighborhood park. A pilot project for the LEED Neighborhood Development rating system, it has already received Silver certification.

The design involved creating pedestrian and vehicular connections, parking layouts, 20,000 sq. ft. of green roof, planting design and paving. Sustainable features include electric car charging stations, advanced stormwater management and connections to existing public transportation.

The development is a new center for the community. The first phase of the project opened this fall.

MRA worked with EDENS on this project. Scott Rykiel, FASLA, Warren Timlen, PLA, Ryan Cosgrove, Ryan Johnson, Nate Scott, Joe Burkhardt, PLA, Monica Johnson, Morgan Handley and Qiaojue Yu. MRA also worked with EDENS, which develops, owns and operates community-oriented shopping locales in prime markets along the East Coast.

MRA is a full service landscape architecture firm with offices in Baltimore and Hong Kong. The staff of 41includes 11 LEED accredited professionals.