Capital One Block A

Image
Photo Credit © Alex Fradkin

Gensler
Tysons, VA
Project partners include Cushman & Wakefield

Capital One continues to expand its footprint in Tysons, Virginia, building out public-facing assets and sustainable corporate office space for over 12,000 associates in the DC metro area. Block A is an integral component of a vibrant new mixed-use campus adjacent to Tysons Corner Center and the McLean Metro Station on the Silver Line. When fully completed, Capital One Center will comprise more than six million square feet of mixed-use development, including a performing arts center, boutique hotel, 3-acre sky park, retail district, and Capital One Park – an NCAA baseball stadium. With the debut of Block A and its signature 12th Floor “Sky Lobby” atrium, an adaptable, resilient LEED Gold-certified HQ destination has been realized for 12,000 DMV-based Capital One associates and their clients.

Photo Credit © Garrett Rowland Photography
Photo Credit © Garrett Rowland Photography

The original master plan had slated the Block A site to be one singular mass of a building. From the very start, Gensler proposed something radically different: two distinct towers connected by a striking glass atrium. Demonstrating the client’s commitment to innovation and discovery, Capital One embraced the new design which allowed the structure to become the beating heart of a dynamic, interdisciplinary campus that attracts and retains the brightest associates.

The soaring atrium concourse serves as an integrated centerpiece between the two towers, presenting a unified gallery for the company’s high frequency energy, projecting an approachable, intuitive, centered core for employees and visitors alike. Intersecting bridges between the two towers house hospitality-infused amenity and conference spaces while uniting traditional workplace functionalities on either side. The successful design of “Sky Lobby” marks a joint architectural partnership between two firms, and collaboration with a large-scale multi-media, experiential artist.

Ascendant Light is a delightful 55′ x 41′ x 28′ permanent art fixture and premiere focal point consisting of fifty-five-foot printed and laser cut satin ribbons, arranged, and suspended by steel cables beside a vertical wall of windows. The ribbons sway and mesmerize, attracting outdoor light and shadows in a sensational form spanning six floors of the 23-story building. From the lobby, Ascendant Light can be viewed as a colorful, three-dimensional abstract form, driving a conversation between elements of light and air, interior and exterior, and floor to ceiling wonder. A fusion of blue and yellow hues reflects and refracts shifting colors in a shimmering display.

Photo Credits © Garrett Rowland Photography

Trusted team collaboration allowed for the exceptional, resourceful completion of a remarkably complex project, on budget and schedule, amidst a supply chain crisis, fluctuating prices, and labor shortages of a global pandemic.

Visit the Gensler website.

Published: 01/21/2025
Share This Article