1770 Crystal Drive
Location: Arlington, VA
Client: JBG Smith
Size: 273,000 SF, 14 stories
Sustainability: LEED Silver
Axias Role: Construction Management
JBG Smith led the redevelopment of this 14-story office building in Crystal City, one of three neighborhoods in the National Landing section of Northern Virginia that Amazon chose as the location for its second North American headquarters. The company occupied 259,000 square feet—the entire office component—in December 2020. Designed by Gensler and constructed by Clark Construction, the massive renovation project was completed two quarters ahead of schedule and under budget.
The strikingly reimagined building features a façade composed of floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall and metal panels and features new outdoor terraces constructed on the upper floors that offer expansive views of the District’s skyline, Potomac River, and Reagan National Airport. A double-height pedestrian colonnade highlights the transformed retail spaces and storefronts at ground level. Interior improvements were extensive, encompassing connection to an existing below-grade mall, two-story lobby, mechanical systems, elevators, refreshed retail spaces, ground floor amenity spaces, and site updates.
The project’s design reflects Amazon’s sustainability goals. It is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. Certification at LEED Silver level is in process for new construction and core and shell.
On September 13, 2021, the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) presented industry awards during their annual conference, and representatives of Axias and JBG Smith were on hand to accept the award for 1170 Crystal Drive, which bested stiff competition nationally to win in the CMAA 2021 National Winner in Commercial/Sports/Entertainment/Hospitality >$50 million category. Earlier in the year, on June 17, 2021, CMAA’s National Capital Chapter awarded Axias “Project of the Year” in the same category for our work on this project.
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