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Carey Needham
Director, Capital Facilities

Reston Arts Center Feasibility Study

Project Number: CC-000024

map - Proposed Reston Arts Center Site Plan (BLOCK J)
Proposed Reston Arts Center Site Plan (BLOCK J)

Project Background

The proposed arts center would be the result of a proffer from Boston Properties in the next phase of development at Reston Town Center (Block J). The proffer would provide a site for an arts center that houses a performing arts venue, as well as other arts-related amenities, that can be accommodated in 60,000 square feet.

Facilitated by architectural firm Grimm + Parker, an exploration of community expectations will occur between February and April 2022 to determine the desired program of spaces in the arts center. Grimm + Parker will use the information gathered to create concept options to consider. Following determination of the optimum program space elements, Grimm + Parker will do rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) cost estimating to help inform the County’s response to the proffer opportunity.

You can check this site for meeting information, presentation materials and related documents to the exploration of this exciting opportunity.

Project Description

In July of 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved Proffer Condition Amendment and Development Plan Amendments PCA 86-C-119-07/DPA 86-C-119-03 and 86-C-121-08/DPA 86-C-121-05 and Planned Residential Community Application PCA 86-119-02. As part of this approval, a proffer identified Block J, located near the intersection of Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway in Reston, as the potential location for a community-based arts center.

The goal of this feasibility study is to evaluate community needs and requirements and to initiate preliminary programming, conceptual design, and ROM cost estimates for the potential use of the Block J site for an approximately 60,000 square foot arts center. Feasibility study evaluations and determinations are planned for completion prior to proffer-related deadlines in summer 2022.

Project Location

The Block J project site is located adjacent to Sunset Hills Road in the southeastern corner of the proposed development site. The project is in the Hunter Mill Magisterial district.

Photo: Overall Development Site Shown
Overall development site shown

 

Project Phase

The project is currently in pre-design development stages required to assess community needs and requirements for an arts center to be located on the Block J site.

Timeline

Feasibility study activities are scheduled to begin in January 2022 and to be substantially complete by mid- July 2022. Additional programming, design, and construction activities will move forward based on the feasibility study phase outcomes.

Community Outreach February – April 2022
Preliminary Programming / Design Concepts / ROM Cost Estimating April – June 2022
Community Reengagement / Proffer Determinations June - July 2022
Building Design and Construction To Be Determined *

* Based on feasibility study outcomes.

What to Expect

A series of community meetings are scheduled from mid-February 2022 through early April 2022 to identify the needs of various community-based arts and school programs and those of the greater community. Community input will then be evaluated to provide preliminary arts center programming, design, and estimating for an arts center on the Block J site and proffer determinations.

Project Cost and Funding Source

Estimated costs for the proposed arts center will to be determined as part of feasibility study evaluations.

Community Meetings and RSVP Contact Information

February 14, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. RCC Hunters Woods Community Room / Community Engagement Kickoff Meeting In-person Meeting
February 28, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. RCC Hunters Woods Meeting Rooms 1-4 Focus Group – Performing Arts In-person Meeting
March 14, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. RCC Hunters Woods Meeting Rooms 1-4 Focus Group – Visual Arts In-person Meeting
March 28, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Focus Group – Arts Education; FCPS; Equity/Opportunity Neighborhood Zoom Meeting
April 4, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Focus Group – General Wrap Up Zoom Meeting
June 13, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. RCC Hunters Woods Community Room Delivery of Feasibility Study Results In-person Meeting

 

To attend a meeting, please RSVP by email, indicating the date of the meeting(s) desired, name(s) of attendees, organizational affiliation (if applicable), address(es) and email to RCCContact@FairfaxCounty.gov; links to online meetings will be sent to those who RSVP for online meetings.

Meeting attendees are required to provide name, address, organization affiliation (if applicable), and an email address.

Background Materials

Presentations to the Community

In 2019, Reston Community Center undertook a comprehensive community survey conducted by the University of Virginia’s Center for Survey Research that included a set of questions about the potential for this arts venue as it related to Reston Community Center resources. The Power Point slides here represent a detailed discussion by UVa researcher Dr. Kara Fitzgibbons of the survey results and the related levels of statistical confidence in them. To see the full survey report, visit Reston Community Center Community Survey 2019 Report.

View the presentation: Reston Community Center 2019 Community Survey - July 26, 2021

Following the onset of the pandemic in 2020, a SurveyMonkey set of questions was offered to the public to gauge whether views about Reston Community Center or the arts venue may have been dramatically altered by the experience of COVID-19. That SurveyMonkey obtained input from 267 respondents and the summary of results is also provided indicating that views continued to align with the 2019 Community Survey.

View the presentation: Reston Community Center - SurveyMonkey pulse check July 2021

To understand the arts facilities landscape for Fairfax County and the region, visit Performing and Visual Arts Venues in the metropolitan Washington D.C. region.


February 14, 2022

Recording of Reston Arts Center Community Engagement Kickoff Meeting, Feb. 14, 2022


February 28, 2022

Recording of Reston Arts Center Community Engagement Meeting, February 28, 2022


March 14, 2022

Recording of Reston Arts Center Community Engagement Meeting, March 14, 2022


March 28, 2022

Recording of Reston Arts Center Feasibility Focus Group meeting of March 28, 2022


April 4, 2022

Recording of Reston Arts Center Feasibility Focus Group meeting of April 4, 2022


June 13, 2022

 

Recording of Reston Arts Center Community Engagement Meeting June 13, 2022

Contact

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