New building will be tallest in Reston Town Center

Published July 29, 2016 by Joan Tupponce

The skyline for Reston Town Center will take on a new look once One Reston Town Center is completed. At a height of about 330 feet, the building will become the tallest structure in the center.

“It’s about 125 feet taller than any other building in Reston,” says Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

Gordon says the new tower reflects the lasting appeal of Reston Town Center. “The Town Center is about 100 percent leased and has a list of companies that have asked for the next available space,” Gordon says. “It’s a very appealing place, and that appeal is reflected in the demand.”

The Reston community is “business friendly and is interested in accommodating businesses,” Gordon says. “This speaks to community efforts to be responsive to businesses.”

Fairfax County currently has 19 million square feet of vacant space. “It’s about 17 to 18 percent throughout the county, excluding Reston Town Center,” Gordon says.

Akridge, a Washington D.C.-based real estate services company, is developing the 23-story tower, and Avison Young, a Toronto-based real estate services firm, is handling leasing. Construction will begin after the five-story building currently on the site is taken down.

The 420,000- square-foot tower will include a six-story, glass-enclosed atrium lobby; a 30,000-square-foot landscaped, seventh-floor outdoor plaza; and a rooftop lounge and terrace. The building also will include retail and dining options as well as a fitness center and covered on-site parking.

The closest Metro station is only about a quarter of a mile away. “Because of its proximity to the Metro, the impact on traffic will be minimized,” Gordon says. “However, there will be 23 stories of people going to work.”

Reston’s location on the western side of Fairfax County is advantageous to people living in Loudoun County. Many Loudoun residents work in Fairfax County.

“You can drive directly from Loudoun to Reston without driving through [Fairfax County],” Gordon says.

He believes the new tower will have a positive economic impact on the local economy. “We generally assume if you create a job in the primary sector you generate two to three jobs in other sectors,” he says. “It will also have an impact on the real estate tax base because the assessed value will be significant. That enables us to provide services without putting the burden on residents.”