Design News

CURRENT DESIGN NEWS

GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL REMINDS FAMILIES OF THE IMPORTANCE OF YEAR-ROUND WATER SAFETY

By Sherry Moeller

With three locations in Northern Virginia, Goldfish Swim School, stresses the importance of learning how to swim no matter what time of year, but especially in the summer. To prevent drowning, the number one safety tip is to never leave a child unattended around any body of water. “It’s critical to be aware of the risks of drowning at home in just inches of water, and also the risks at the beach,” says Gina Bewersdorf, M.D., who, along with her husband Ryan Bewersdorf, own Goldfish Swim Schools in Alexandria, Falls Church and Reston, Virginia. Although May is the official National Water Safety Month, Goldfish Swim School says that every month is Water Safety Month.

Goldfish Swim School advocates for perpetual yearround swim lessons, allowing students to advance at their own rate. All students start with a beginner class and are evaluated each week before advancing to the next level. The swim school offers classes starting at age four months, with options for parent participation in classes ages four months to two years old. For classes for ages three and older, there is a max of four students per class with one instructor. The goal is to teach children to float on their backs at an early age; that’s the beginning of learning a lifesaving skill. Teaching children how to go under water and not panic is also essential.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 10 drownings per day and about 3,500 per year. In addition, drowning is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of one and four years old. In 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics released revised drowning prevention guidelines that suggest enrolling children in dedicated swim lessons by the age of one year old. “This is an effective layer for drowning prevention,” Bewersdorf says. “This has the potential to save lives.”

“I learned how to swim as an adult,” says Bewersdorf, so teaching her own children as well as those at the three Goldfish Swim Schools how to swim has been fun and rewarding. “Everyone needs to know how to swim.”

The pandemic put swimming lessons on hold for some months, but now that things are opening up in phases, Goldfish Swim School is welcoming their students back to their three locations, with all facility safety precautions in place, including a UV sanitation system. By working in properly chlorinated water, a swim school environment may be safer from COVID-19 than other businesses where critical work surfaces and equipment do not have the advantage of being in constant contact with a disinfecting substance like chlorine. “Safety comes first for our team, families and guests,” Bewerdorf says.

For more information about water safety skills and Goldfish Swim School, visit www.goldfishswimschool.com or call 703.348.3261.

DESIGN NEWS

CURRENT DESIGN NEWS

GTM ARCHITECTS WINS MARYLAND BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION’S CUSTOM HOME AWARDS

Bethesda, Maryland-based firm receives multiple gold, silver and judge’s choice honors

By Sherry Moeller

The Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA) recently announced its 2020 Custom Builder Awards via an online ceremony, awarding top honors in fine design and quality workmanship to builders, architects, designers and construction professionals throughout the region. GTM Architects was awarded three Gold, one Silver, and two Judge’s Choice awards from the Montgomery County, Maryland chapter.

Categories included traditional, contemporary and transitional homes— which are further divided into custom and speculative homes—and are judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts from across the area.

GTM Architects was recognized as the architectural firm in the following projects:

Gold Award (in Partnership with Patrick K. Keating (PKK) Builders): Custom Home Between 3,500-5,000 sq. ft. Project Lead - Luke Olson, GTM Architects Gold Award (in Partnership with Sandy Spring Builders, LLC): Custom Traditional Home Project Lead – Mark Kaufman, GTM Architects Gold Award (in Partnership with Sandy Spring Builders, LLC): Custom Contemporary Home Project Lead – Mark Kaufman, GTM Architects Silver Award (in Partnership with Zuckerman Builders): Speculative Home Between 5,000-7,500 sq. ft. Project Lead – Doug Roberts, GTM Architects Judge’s Choice Award (in Partnership with Zuckerman Builders): Best Bathroom Feature Project Lead – Doug Roberts, GTM Architects Judge’s Choice Award (in Partnership with Patrick K. Keating (PKK) Builders): Best Outdoor Living Space Project Lead - Luke Olson, GTM Architects

Many of the award-winning homes featured luxury amenities, such as indoor or outdoor pools, indoor sports courts, spa bathrooms, media rooms, outdoor entertaining spaces, gourmet kitchens, home offices, and cuttingedge technology.

Above: GTM Architects won Gold for this Custom Traditional Home. Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Below: GTM Architects won Gold for this Custom Contemporary Home. Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg