Photo Credit © Chris Spielmann
WDG Architecture
College Park, MD
Photographs © Chris Spielmann
Atworth, in College Park, MD, was envisioned as a model for the community benefits of transit-oriented multifamily development. The site is located on the east side of the city, an underdeveloped, car-oriented area east of the University of Maryland. When Atworth was proposed, it was clear that embracing the regional Metrorail system was key to the success of the project. The master plan and architectural design leaned into the aesthetics and connectivity of the adjacent DC Metro, regional commuter rail, and the planned light rail, highlighting the economic and social benefits these systems offer. It was delivered as an affordable apartment project near the College Park Metro Station and future Purple Line. The project’s social, economic, and environmental benefits include reduced car usage, increased job accessibility, and enhanced economic potential for the area, enriching the community fabric, and expanded opportunities for residents to thrive.
With 451 apartment units, 5,000 sf of retail and an overall development of 568,000 sf, Atworth fully adopts the aesthetics of the adjacent rail systems and develops a language of industrial movement and commuter flow. Running parallel to the DC Metro and south of the College Park Metro Station, this five-story building features two enclosed courtyards, a concealed parking garage, and a modern architectural expression.
With a long linear massing along River Road and the adjacent rail lines, it was important that the project embrace the human scale of a walkable community while also reflecting the different speeds of movement that each façade reflected. On River Road, the building’s massing is broken into three separate sections, aligning with the parking garage and using varying tones of masonry, metal panels, and cementitious panels to soften the linear form and create a pedestrian-friendly environment. On the rail side, the design mirrors the kinetic energy of passing commuter trains and metro cars with horizontally expressed fenestration and a monochromatic pattern. Industrially inspired corrugated metal panels complete this approach. The southern and northern facades blend these two designs, using recesses and material returns to highlight the combination of aesthetics.
Atworth achieved Two Green Globes Certification, meeting 74% of the site’s possible points. Sustainability features include 40% water consumption savings, an 18% reduction in energy use under ASHRAE 90.1 benchmarks, and an Energy Star Score of 77. High-performance fenestration and energy-efficient HVAC units further reduce the building’s environmental impact.
Additionally, the Amazon Housing Equity Fund partnered with DC Metro and the development team to help fund affordable housing units on the site. Amazon’s agreement to provide 100% affordable units for residents earning 80% of area median income (AMI) for the life of the project helped transform the vision into reality. As a result, Atworth was completed in December 2023 as a landmark project for College Park and a model for future development. Combined with the project’s mass transit benefits, Atworth sets a new green and socially-conscious standard for the area. Atworth is a forward-thinking, sustainable approach to affordable housing and transit-oriented development in College Park.
Visit the WDG Architecture website.
Published: 02/18/2026
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