FIRST ARCLIGHT CINEMAS/DINING TERRACE SIGNS, FURNITURE INSTALLED AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTOS)

A lot has happened since my last update on the construction of the ArcLight Cinemas and dining terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Most exciting are the first permanent signs for both to be installed so far. They are wayfaring signs directing mall patrons to the new addition, as well as a sign labeling the dining terrace itself.

First sign marking the future
dining terrace

What else is new? New seating in the original food court space. Much of it more upscale than the standard, hard mall food court furniture you would ordinarily take your Chick-Fil-A sandwich or Big Mac over to in the past. Instead it is more like a restaurant. Now look up, and you'll notice new lighting fixtures above the food court. The architecturally-dramatic new addition is still under wraps beyond the existing food court, but the new seating and new lighting above are a step towards the unification of old and new into the future dining terrace, opening this fall (along with the ArcLight cineplex).

Meanwhile, outside the new addition, exterior work is rapidly advancing. You'll notice that much of the blue space in last week's photos is now silver or white in color. That little ridge right above the overhang along the right side of the structure now has some kind of metallic-colored tiling on it, as well. Some of the window coverings were removed at the time when these photos were taken, and you can see extensive structural work going on inside the second story.