Choice defines the three distinct dining venues at The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center – A Kisco Signature Community in Gaithersburg, Md. An open layout creates a barrier-free space where residents can freely choose between the Dupont Bistro, The 1878 Bar and Lounge, and the full-service restaurant Forge and Fire.
Architecture firm THW Design (Atlanta) and interior design firm StudioSix5 (Austin, Texas), designed the venues, drawing inspiration from the surrounding Rio Lakefront district of Gaithersburg. Earth tones, including green hues and natural wood, appear throughout the furniture, finishes, and artwork.
The project, submitted to the Dining Competition by operator Kisco Senior Living (Carlsbad, Calif.), earned the Silver award, catching jurors’ attention with its open kitchens, vibrant gathering spaces, and “a level of choice rarely seen in senior living today.”
Dupont Bistro anchors daytime dining with a hearth oven, grab-and-go offerings, and a self-serve market. The 1878 Bar and Lounge serves as a seasonally driven gastropub that transitions from a relaxed daytime retreat to a lively evening social hub. Forge and Fire is the community’s full-service restaurant, serving upscale regional cuisine in a private dining room with views into the kitchen.
According to the jurors, “this project makes great use of design and spacing to create an environment that feels elevated yet welcoming and accommodating.”
Read more about the 2026 EFA Dining Competition winners here.
