THAT 70s BUILDING REACHES 17 STORIES, ASSERTS ITSELF ON ARLINGTON ROAD HORIZON (PHOTOS)

Very impressive progress at Donohoe's construction site for That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) since my last update.

The structure has reached the top floor - which will house a rooftop pool - and is now visible on the horizon from Bethesda Row.

One photo below shows the view from a car on Arlington Road driving towards the Woodmont Triangle. As you will notice, where there once was sky, That 70s Building is now looming above the horizon.

The other interesting thing is that, in these photos, the facade appears to be "climbing" the sides of the building. That's the real brick facade on the lowest floors, the colored Tyvex-type covering on the middle levels, and the bare frame on the highest levels. It's amazing to watch all of this happening at once.

I've also given you a split screen photo of the real building vs. the artist rendering, so you can put these photos into context.

One other notable detail: you'll notice the building's windows have a cross-like frame, which is fairly unusual.

And, of course, that's Triangle Towers across Del Ray Avenue from the building, to give you the height comparison.

THAT 70s BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: FIRST GLASS INSTALLED (PHOTOS)

Donohoe continues to hold a commanding lead in the race to deliver the first post-recession luxury building in downtown Bethesda. There has been a slight change in the move-in date for early buyers, however: from December to early 2014, now.

The first glass has been installed in That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda).

In the photos below, you'll not only see the glass windowpanes,  but also plumbing pipes and ductwork being installed.

Exciting times at the construction site. And, yes, that is the old WHFS broadcast tower atop neighboring Triangle Towers.

TRIANGLE TOWERS RESIDENTS: PRACTICE WAVING TO FUTURE NEIGHBORS IN THAT 70s BUILDING (PHOTOS)

Residents of the Triangle Towers apartments in Bethesda can start practicing their wave. That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) is almost as tall as Triangle Towers, and growing by the day. Soon those living on the north side of Triangle Towers will open their sashes to find... their new neighbors at That 70s Building opening their sashes across the street.

THAT 70s BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

That 70s Building, a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda, continues to climb skyward between Del Ray and Auburn Avenues in downtown Bethesda.

Donohoe is on target to be the first developer to deliver a luxury residential building in the post-recession Bethesda building boom.

THAT 70s BUILDING RISING SKYWARD IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Donohoe is making big-time progress constructing That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda). Three floors are now up above Auburn and Del Ray Avenues. There's little question which of Bethesda's luxury buildings will be completed first, at this rate.  You've got to hand it to Donohoe and Miller and Long: this is one impressive construction effort.

THAT 70s BUILDING TAKES LEAD IN BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION RACE (PHOTOS)

Donohoe has earned indisputable bragging rights, as the first developer to make it "out of the hole" in the Great Building Race in downtown Bethesda.

That 70s Building, a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda, is the first building currently under construction to reach and surpass street elevation.

A groovy congratulations to Donohoe, as this building started long after the Bainbridge.

THAT 70s BUILDING BETHESDA VIP WAITING LIST OPENS

Impeccable timing by developer Donohoe: The same moment  famous 1970s doorman Ralph Hart (a.k.a. Ned Wertimer) has passed, the VIP waiting list for prospective residents of That 70s Building in Bethesda (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) has opened.

The Jeffersons actor would have felt right at home in the mellow 70s styling of this future, luxury tower between Auburn and Del Ray Avenues in Old Town Bethesda.  Currently, the project is in the early stages of construction.

Even if you don't share my appreciation for all things 70s - including 1970s architecture, of which The Gallery is a surprisingly groovy example - you may still be impressed by its 18th floor rooftop pool, and an amenity list that surpasses all buildings but The Darcy (currently under construction at Bethesda Row across town):

*Show-off your style with your beautifully appointed apartment home

*Access your inner chef in culinary kitchens with stainless steel appliances, stone countertops and custom cabinetry

*Breathe easily in Bethesda's first smoke-free apartment residence

*Kick back in the cyber lounge and coffee lounge

*Zip through work in the high-tech business center

*Keep fit in the sports-club style fitness center

*Invite your friends to the rooftop club suite perfect for get-togethers

*Luxuriate at the rooftop pool with incomparable views and outdoor kitchen area

*Spoil your pet with our dog walk and dog washing station

*Head downstairs to onsite retail

*Walk to dozens of unique restaurants and stores

Donohoe says The Gallery will be the tallest building in Bethesda, but the Capital One building is 19 stories. Hmm.

One question I have: can I get discount parking if driving a brown Plymouth Fury with whitewall tires?

When That 70s Building opens, it will be like that decade, without the gas lines, Billy beer and Bee Gees.

And, sadly, without Ralph the Doorman. May he finally collect that tip from Mr. Jefferson.

THAT 70s BUILDING - BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Some slow-but-steady progress to report from the construction site of That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda).

While the project initially appeared to be outpacing those of The Bainbridge and The Darcy across town, as you can see from these photos, work still seems focused on the foundation and basic structure.  Having said that, there is much more down there than there was a few months back. One has to assume part of this will be the underground parking garage.

When complete in 2014, the retro design of That 70s Building will bring bell-bottom, deeply-unbuttoned shirt, gold medallion-cool back to Old Town Bethesda.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE ON THAT 70s BUILDING (PHOTOS)

Despite having begun construction more recently, Donohoe's That 70s Building is further towards completion than the Bainbridge Bethesda.

That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) will be located between Del Ray and Auburn Avenues.  As you can see in these photos, foundation work there is ahead of that which you saw in my Bainbridge update last week.

One other comparison of the projects raises a safety question: Why is the Miller and Long crane at the 70s Building site unlit, while the Bainbridge crane has red warning lights at night?

Does the proximity of the lit WHFS radio tower atop Triangle Towers exempt the 70s Building crane from safety lighting?  There is legitimate cause for concern.  Suburban Hospital and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center both draw heavy helicopter traffic, and are close by.

Should a helicopter not see the crane, the resulting crash could topple the crane.  Chopper and crane could both conceivably crash into the Palisades and Triangle Towers apartment buildings.  Catastrophe would be an understatement in such a disaster.

So, should that thing be lit at night? Or is the situation by the book?

I've read 62 pages of FAA structure lighting regulations, and there was no clear answer either way.

CRANE WEEK IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA! EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!

Two cranes appeared over Bethesda Saturday.   In the
foreground is Donohoe's on Auburn Ave.; in the
distance is Bainbridge's on St. Elmo Ave.

Welcome to Crane Week in downtown Bethesda.  No matter what apartment, condo or office building you are in, you can't miss the towering giants now looming over us.  Hulking, steel monstrosities that are more exciting than the lackluster buildings they've been erected to create:  Bainbridge's The Monty, and Donohoe's That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda).

As usual, Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row is the place to turn for full coverage, and Crane Week is no exception.  Get outside to check out the cranes yourself in the Woodmont Triangle (or Old Town Bethesda, to be more accurate).  But with a lot of rain in the forecast today and Tuesday, you'll be glad to know that the best crane action is indoors, on your computer, tablet or smartphone, right here on this blog.

CRANE PHOTO GALLERY 

This morning, you'll find the number of photos in the gallery has already more than doubled.  And more are on the way.  You can even watch the cranes being assembled.

Stay tuned for more Crane Week coverage this week.  In fact, I'll be posting another exclusive Crane Week surprise later today.

Soon, a third crane will join the Bethesda skyline, right here at Bethesda Row, to build The Darcy on the former Lot 31.

There's no known cure for crane fever, so you might as well relax and enjoy the coverage right here on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row.

MASSIVE CRANES RISE ABOVE DOWNTOWN BETHESDA - EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!!

Construction crews and big rigs flooded into downtown Bethesda Saturday, giving a hint of the development to come.

One crew worked at Bainbridge's The Monty, while the other was at That 70s Building [a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda].  Both teams assembled towering cranes at their respective sites.

Here is an exclusive photo gallery:

Beyond Jiffy Shoppes and Chef Tony's on
St. Elmo, the Bainbridge crane begins to
take shape

Flagmen stop traffic as workers prepare to
raise the crane's cab up to its
gravity-defying perch

There it goes!  Up...

...up...

...up!  The Eagle has landed

Meet Crane #2, assisting construction of
That 70s Building between Del Ray and
Auburn Avenues

Auburn Avenue was completely shut down
for assembly of the Miller and Long crane.
Note the vintage WHFS radio transmitting
tower atop Triangle Towers

A classic Freightliner truck stands by as the
crew prepares to hoist a counterweight up
to the crane arm

We have liftoff of the counterweight

Counterweight on its way up...

...way up...

...waaaaay up...

Almost there...

Success!  Now to secure it in place...

Counterweights securely in place

View of assembled Miller & Long crane
from ...Miller & Long!