Penzance has broken ground on Ballston One, a project that will turn the 240,000 square foot office building at 4601 N. Fairfax Drive in Arlington, Virginia, into a seven-story, 328-unit residential community.
The groundbreaking caps three years of planning, community engagement, design and work with the Arlington County Board and Arlington Economic Development.
Josh Bowden, Penzance’s senior vice president of development, said the project turns an underutilized office property into much-needed housing while reducing office vacancy. One building, two jobs.
Down Below, Nothing New: The plan reuses and upgrades the building’s existing two-story below-grade parking garage. Penzance says that reuse is estimated to cut the project’s carbon emissions by approximately 40%.
Also on the green list:
A target of LEED Gold certification and about 24% energy savings
Bird-friendly glass and dark-sky-compliant lighting
A green roof and EV charging infrastructure
All-electric appliances and low-flow fixtures
Planned tree canopy of about 16%, above the County’s 10% requirement
The Housing Fund Gets a Boost: As part of its community benefits package, Penzance will contribute more than $3.2 million toward affordable housing in the County. Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said the project will replace “an obsolete office building” with “hundreds of much-needed housing units.”
Location, Location, Metro
The site sits at the edge of Route 66, next to Ballston Wetland Park, and about 800 feet from the planned second entrance to the Ballston Metro Station.
Public improvements include a shared-use path along North Fairfax Drive and ADA-compliant intersections and crossings. They’re designed to strengthen connections to the wetland park and the Custis and Bluemont trails.
Second Shift: An underutilized office building is swapping desk space for 328 front doors. Some buildings just need a career change.
🥾Want to advertise in TheJobWalk? Learn More🥾
