Reston Town Center

High rises in Reston Town Center
Along Reston Parkway
Construction in December 2006

Reston Town Center (also known as RTC and locally as simply, Town Center) is a mixed-use development featuring offices, retail stores, and restaurants in Reston, Virginia owned and managed primarily by Boston Properties.

Description

Reston Town Center is located six miles east of Washington Dulles International Airport and 21 miles west of Washington, D.C., just north of Exit 12 (Reston Parkway) off the Dulles Toll Road (VA-267). Construction of the second phase of the Silver Line of the Washington Metro is currently underway, and the planned opening of the Reston Town Center station is 2018.

Reston Town Center is designed with open avenues and with wide sidewalks. It is built around Fountain Square, a medium-sized open area between the surrounding shops. The main landmark in Fountain Square is Mercury Fountain, designed by Saint Clair Cemin. Directly in front of Mercury Fountain is Market Street, and across the street is the Pavilion. The Pavilion doubles as a covered open-air ice rink during the winter and as a concert and event venue throughout the rest of the year. Adjacent to the fountain are the One & Two Fountain Square buildings with the One & Two Freedom Square buildings located one block to the west. The center is surrounded by street parking and several parking garages. Reston Town Center's "downtown" area has more than 50 retail shops and 30 restaurants. In addition, Reston Town Center has a 13-screen cinema which was recently renovated, and a Hyatt Regency hotel. Since the most recent phase of construction in 2009, Reston Town Center, in the past known more so for its shopping, dining, and entertainment, has also developed into a location for businesses and residences. Among brand name companies who now have offices at Reston Town Center are Google and Rolls-Royce North America. High-rise condominiums have led to an influx of young professionals.[1]

Readers of Northern Virginia Magazine chose Reston Town Center for its 2008 top ten list "Hip to be Where",[1] and it was dubbed a "downtown for the 21st century."[2]

History

Reston Town Center was conceived and planned starting in the late 1970s by Mobil Land Development for approximately 460 acres of undeveloped land near Dulles International Airport.[3] Construction of the town center began in 1988, over 20 years after the founding of Reston in 1964 by Robert E. Simon.

Phase 1 of construction started the center off with two 11-story office buildings, One Fountain Square and Two Fountain Square, along with smaller office/retail buildings and the Hyatt Regency hotel. This phase opened in October 1990 and consisted of the area located between Reston Parkway and Library Street. Phase 2 consists of the 18-story One Freedom Square and 16-story Two Freedom Square (both built in 2000). The remainder of Phase 2 would remain undeveloped until the three South of Market buildings and a nine-level parking garage were built and opened in 2009 by Boston Properties. One, Two and Three South of Market buildings are 10, 6, and 10 stories, respectively. Immediately following the opening of the garage, an additional 8-story office building, Democracy Tower, was constructed above and now serves as offices for College Board. Phase 2 is located between Library Street and Explorer Street. Phase 3 is home to three residential high-rises (finished in mid-2006), Reston Town Square Park, and The Avant apartment building (currently under construction). Phase 3 is located between Explorer Street and Town Center Parkway.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://restontowncenter.com/iframe/pop-ups/search.htm
  2. ↑ Ward, Alan (June 1, 2006). Reston Town Center: Downtown for the 21st Century (1st ed.). Academy Press. p. 218 pp. ISBN 0-9728575-1-6.
  3. ↑ Michael P. Russell (7/17/2011), Reston Town Center—Soft Programming Makes Good Public Space Design Great, UrbDeZine

Coordinates: 38°57′32″N 77°21′28″W / 38.9588°N 77.3578°W / 38.9588; -77.3578

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