JBG’s Proposed Central Place
Planning Update:
- County Board: May 5, 2007 APPROVED
- Housing Commission recommended approval: April 26, 2007
- Planning Commission recommended approval: April 23, 2007
- Transportation Commission recommended approval: April 19, 2007
Project Description
If the County gives the go-ahead to a million-square foot, mixed-use development in Rosslyn, Arlington County will have its first – and only – publicly-accessible observation deck overlooking Washington’s monuments.
The two-level observation deck on the 28th and 29th floors of the office tower will be a unique public amenity for Arlington residents and tourists to enjoy panoramic views of the monumental core. It’s expected to draw up to 450,000 visitors annually. The deck is part of the JBG Companies’ proposed Central Place project, scheduled to go before the County Board for approval by year’s end.
The observation deck will be atop a commercial office tower located at Wilson Boulevard, one of two glass towers that will comprise the JBG project. The re-development will redefine Rosslyn’s “Central Place” block, bounded by Lynn and Moore Streets, between 19th Street North and Wilson Boulevard.
The JBG site incorporates four buildings on the center block, including McDonald’s and Tom Sarris’ Orleans House restaurant, as well as three existing small parks Ñ Metro Park, Annie’s Park, and Crandall Mackey Park. These parks will be replaced by a “Central Park,” approximately 18,400 square feet in size, directly opposite the Rosslyn Metro station.
A residential tower at 19th Street North, along with 48,000 square feet of ground-floor retail located within the base of the two towers, completes the project.
“Central Place represents a milestone in Rosslyn’s revitalization,” says David W. Briggs, president of Rosslyn Renaissance. “It’s a unique opportunity for Rosslyn to become a destination.”
A lengthy planning process
The County Board’s official review will follow two years of community review by the Rosslyn Working Group. Initially, Rosslyn Renaissance (RR) brought together the three property owners with plans for the Central Place block, to coordinate and collaborate among themselves. In October 2004, the Arlington County Manager officially appointed a group of planners, designers, and citizens Ñ including members of the RR Urban Design Committee Ñ to review and plan the JBG project’s height, architecture and urban design. The group has been meeting in the RR/Rosslyn BID office to carry out its work. Central Place is identified in the Rosslyn Sector Plan as the organizing element of Rosslyn’s urban core, with a vision that it will be “hub” of pedestrian activity providing streetscape, shopping, eateries, art and open space. The JBG design incorporates key components of the Rosslyn Plan and also addresses the County-commissioned study by the Urban Land Institute. Download the report at www.RosslynVA.orgArchitects
The architectural firm for the project is Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB), a nationally and internationally recognized company. BBB, a three-time winner of the Presidential Design Award and the AIA Firm Award, is known for its renovation of Grand Central Terminal, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and the rehabilitation of the Rockefeller Center retail and public space in New York, and for its work with the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Capitol. BBB designed the dramatic towers and public spaces to blend 21st century architecture with the community’s desire for unique and functional gathering spaces. “Our design approach evolved around creating a sense of place in the heart of Rosslyn,” says Hany Hassan, Partner with BBB. “A desirable place to live and work while enjoying its public amenities; a central place accessible to multiple modes of transportation and pedestrian public open space.” “The objective of the overall development was to create a new image and identity for Arlington,” he says. “The form and materials of the two glass towers reflect a sense of transparency, lightness and quiet elegance.” The glass and metal residential building will rise to 380 feet and has been designed to match the drama and quality of the office tower at the opposite end of the site. The office building will contain trophy level office space, with impressive views for the public and corporate tenants. The top 60 feet of the building has been reserved for the highly anticipated public observation deck, which will crown the development.
Observation Deck
The observation deck will contain two levels of public space, fully glazed on all sides. The glass walls create a sense of openness that extends beyond the soaring 60-foot high ceiling of the main room. “This project will become a distinctive landmark,” says Brian Coulter, a partner with The JBG Companies, and a former president of the RR board of directors. “It will redefine the skyline, and, hopefully, increase tourism in Arlington.” Visitors will arrive at the rooftop observation deck though a public lobby located just off the Central Plaza, board a dedicated high-speed elevator, which will whisk them immediately to the top of the building for a complete, panoramic view of Washington, D.C.’s monumental core and the Arlington National Cemetery. Additional views of the National Cathedral, Georgetown and the Potomac Valley will also be available from various vantage points. In addition to dramatic 270-degree views, JBG plans for a café to provide atmosphere and a place to relax.