Nestled within the Brambleton master plan in Loudoun County, Virginia, Birchwood at Brambleton is reimagining what active-adult living can be.
What started as an innovative response to a unique land opportunity and school district constraints has evolved into one of the region’s most thoughtfully designed 55-plus neighborhoods—and the 2025 Masterpiece Builder Award winner.
The vision for Birchwood began between 2014 and 2015, when the Brambleton team saw untapped potential in a parcel of vacant land anchored by a large stormwater pond. Rather than seeing the pond as a challenge, the team saw an amenity waiting to be transformed.
Unfortunately, the county was not interested in an all-age community, due to the increased demand it would put on the local schools.
Jim Kirby Photography
As a result, the Brambleton Group presented a creative plan for an active-adult community.
At the time, integrating active-adult housing within a master plan was still a relatively novel concept, especially in Northern Virginia.
“In 2014, there weren’t many master-planned communities with active-adult attached or inside of them,” says Kim Adams, vice president of marketing at Brambleton Group. “This was a fairly new concept.”
The proposal was eventually approved for 1,500 units of 55-plus housing, enough to support dedicated amenities and a vibrant lifestyle, but still deeply connected to the larger Brambleton community.
From the beginning, Birchwood’s creators wanted something different from the cookie-cutter models typical of legacy active-adult communities.
They worked closely with regional builders to rethink product design. Four builders were selected, including Miller & Smith, Van Metre Cos., Winchester Homes, now known as Tri Pointe Homes, and Knutson. All had experience in Brambleton and offered diverse design perspectives that would blend into a cohesive yet varied streetscape.
“We wanted some individuality,” states Adams. “Based on our market research, we heard people say ‘we don’t want to sit on the front porch and spend the rest of the day looking at the cars driving by.’”
Instead of defaulting to that typical single-story living, Birchwood introduced larger multifamily and townhome-style homes, many with elevators.
Jim Kirby Photography
“We have a whole variety of product,” continues Adams. “When you drive by, you don’t realize you’re in an active-adult community. It’s very seamless.”
Birchwood’s amenity strategy was equally fresh. While it includes the expected pickleball and bocce courts, it goes a step further with unique offerings like a community greenhouse and integrated trail-connected exercise stations. The indoor pool—designed with lap lanes and year-round usability—takes priority over a larger outdoor pool, which is instead designed as a “cocktail pool” for socializing.
Perhaps Birchwood’s greatest amenity, however, is its location. Residents enjoy easy access to Brambleton’s bustling town center, extensive regional trails, and close proximity to Dulles International Airport.
As the community nears sellout, the team reflects on lessons learned. Chief among them: the importance of product diversification.
“Too often, developers chase density without considering size variety. It’s a mistake we made, and one we won’t repeat,” concludes Adams. “With master plans, it’s trial and error. You learn from one community, and you want to do better.
