Reston Town Center: updating a legacy commercial district

Widely considered a prototypical multi-use development, Reston Town Center is among the most vibrant commercial and entertainment districts in the Washington, D.C., area. In recent years, Reston expanded its footprint with new commercial and residential uses and was connected to central D.C. via bike trails and rail transit. But its public and commercial core had started to feel dated.

To unite the evolving Reston Town Center under a single identity, while simultaneously updating its public realm, I joined a multidisciplinary team of Sasaki colleagues, led by the veteran landscape architect who worked on the original project. My charge was to articulate the character of the district, and to develop a stewardship and programming strategy.

I engaged local retailers and residents in a wide-ranging conversation about changing needs of the district, consumer preferences, and anxieties around placekeeping. Their insights led to a comprehensive report delivered to Boston Properties, which owns and maintains commercial spaces. The report identified values and differentiators for the district, outlined public programming and activation strategies, and suggested new approaches to audience engagement.

In turn, these recommendations influenced the landscape plan by emphasizing, for instance, smaller-grain independent retail and flexible public spaces. Together, the physical and programming plan for Reston Town Center clarifies future investments and guides decision-making.