Reston Town Center
Reston Town Center is a mixed-use urban development and destination in Reston, Virginia, combining offices, residences, retail, restaurants, hospitality, entertainment, public spaces, and transit access.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Reston Town Center, commonly abbreviated RTC and often called simply Town Center by local residents, is a mixed-use urban development in Reston, Virginia. It functions both as a real-estate district and as a consumer-facing destination, bringing together office buildings, apartments and condominiums, retail stores, restaurants, a hotel, entertainment venues, public plazas, parking facilities, and event programming. The development is primarily owned and managed by Boston Properties and forms the commercial and civic center of Reston, a planned community founded in 1964 by Robert E. Simon. The concept for Reston Town Center emerged in the late 1970s, when Mobil Land Development planned a major urban-style center on approximately 460 acres of undeveloped land near Washington Dulles International Airport. Construction began in 1988, more than two decades after Reston itself was established. The first phase opened in October 1990 around Market Street and Fountain Square. Its initial composition paired office towers with low-rise office and retail buildings, a Hyatt Regency hotel, smaller public parks, and a walkable street framework intended to create a recognizable downtown rather than a conventional suburban shopping center. The physical and commercial identity of RTC is organized around open avenues, broad sidewalks, Market Street, and Fountain Square. The square is marked by Mercury Fountain, a public artwork by Saint Clair Cemin. The Pavilion, located across from the fountain, operates as a covered outdoor ice rink in winter and as a venue for concerts and other events during the rest of the year. These public spaces give the development a place-making function beyond shopping and dining, while street parking and several surrounding parking garages support visitors, workers, residents, and hotel guests. Expansion west of Library Street began nearly a decade after the first phase. One Freedom Square and Two Freedom Square added larger office buildings, while later construction introduced condominiums, townhomes, residential towers, additional office properties, and more structured parking. The South of Market office buildings were completed in 2008, and the broader second phase concluded with the opening of The Avant in 2013. This period shifted RTC from a district known primarily for retail, restaurants, and entertainment toward a more complete live-work environment. The addition of high-rise housing contributed to a larger resident population and attracted younger professionals. The district continued to evolve through redevelopment. Boston Properties began replacing a surface parking lot north of Fountain Square in 2015, resulting in The Signature residential towers, which opened in 2018. A further redevelopment replaced earlier low-rise retail with 17Fifty, a glass-clad office tower that opened in 2020. In 2022, the opening of the Reston Town Center station on the Washington Metro Silver Line strengthened the district's regional accessibility and connected it more directly with Washington, D.C., other Northern Virginia communities, and Dulles International Airport. A major extension known as RTC Next was planned south of the original center. Initially referred to as Reston Gateway, the project received Fairfax County zoning approval in 2018. It encompasses nine blocks between the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Trail and the Metro station. The first four blocks were completed in 2024 and include two office buildings, a hotel, and Skymark, a mixed-use office and residential building. At completion, Skymark was described as the tallest residential tower in the Washington metropolitan area at 39 stories. RTC Next is linked to the original center over the W&OD Trail by an elevated bridge, with a further direct connection to the Metro station planned. Today, Reston Town Center is positioned as a walkable, mixed-use downtown for Reston rather than as a single-purpose retail property. Its offering includes more than 50 retail shops and approximately 30 restaurants in the central district, together with a renovated 13-screen cinema, the Hyatt Regency hotel, offices, apartments, condominiums, event spaces, public art, seasonal recreation, and transit-oriented development. Its proximity to Dulles International Airport, the Dulles Toll Road, the Silver Line, and Washington, D.C., supports its role as both a regional destination and an employment and residential center.
History
Reston Town Center was conceived as the commercial and civic core of Reston, Virginia, a planned community founded in 1964 by Robert E. Simon. Mobil Land Development began planning the center in the late 1970s for roughly 460 acres of undeveloped land near Washington Dulles International Airport. The proposal sought to create an urban-style downtown in a suburban setting, with a mixture of offices, shops, restaurants, public spaces, hotels, and housing rather than a conventional enclosed mall or isolated office park. Construction began in 1988. The first phase opened in October 1990 between Reston Parkway and Library Street. It was organized around Market Street and Fountain Square and included One Fountain Square and Two Fountain Square, two 11-story office buildings. Low-rise office and retail buildings framed the office towers, while additional office and retail space, public parks, and the Hyatt Regency hotel were developed on the southern side of the initial district. Town Center Parkway was subsequently established as a western boundary and access route. The next major period of construction began almost ten years later west of Library Street. One Freedom Square, an 18-story office building, was completed in 2000, followed by the 16-story Two Freedom Square in 2001. Low-rise condominiums and townhomes were built around Town Center Parkway, followed in 2006 by three residential high-rises west of Freedom Square. Three South of Market office buildings were completed in 2008, and a nine-level parking garage topped by Democracy Tower was completed in 2009. The second phase concluded with The Avant, a 15-story apartment building south of Reston Town Square Park, which opened in 2013. These additions changed the character of the district. Reston Town Center had initially been known chiefly for shopping, dining, entertainment, and public events, but the introduction of substantial housing and additional office space made it a more complete live-work neighborhood. High-rise condominiums and apartments increased the local resident population and helped attract younger professionals. The central public realm remained important: Fountain Square, Mercury Fountain, Market Street, and The Pavilion supplied recognizable gathering places and supported seasonal and cultural activities. The Pavilion serves as an ice rink during winter and as a concert and event venue during other seasons. In late 2015, Boston Properties began redeveloping the surface parking lot north of Fountain Square. The project produced The Signature, a pair of high-rise residential towers that opened in February 2018. Work then began across President's Street on 17Fifty, a 17-story glass-clad office tower. The building opened in 2020 after replacing low-rise retail structures associated with the original development. A further extension was approved by Fairfax County in 2018. Initially called Reston Gateway, the project was later branded RTC Next. It covers nine blocks south of the original center between the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Trail and the Reston Town Center Metro station. The first four blocks were completed in 2024 and contain two office buildings, a hotel, and Skymark, a mixed-use office and residential tower. At the time of completion, Skymark was identified as the tallest residential tower in the Washington metropolitan area, at 39 stories. RTC Next connects to the original center through an elevated bridge over the W&OD Trail, and plans call for another bridge to connect the development directly with the Metro station. Transportation access was further improved when the Reston Town Center station opened on the Washington Metro Silver Line in 2022. The station serves the southern end of the center and reinforces its role as a transit-oriented employment, residential, hospitality, retail, and entertainment district. Located approximately six miles east of Dulles International Airport and about 21 miles west of Washington, D.C., the center also benefits from access to the Dulles Toll Road and nearby regional roads. Its continuing development reflects the broader evolution of Reston Town Center from a planned shopping and office destination into a dense, walkable suburban downtown.
- 2024
Initial RTC Next blocks completed
[1]The first four RTC Next blocks are completed, including Skymark, two office buildings, and a hotel.
- 2022
Silver Line station opens
[1]The Reston Town Center station opens as part of the Washington Metro Silver Line.
- 2020
17Fifty opens
[1]The 17-story 17Fifty office tower opens on the site of earlier low-rise retail.
- 2018
The Signature opens and RTC Next receives approval
[1]The Signature residential towers open, while Fairfax County approves the larger project later branded RTC Next.
- 2015
Signature redevelopment begins
[1]Boston Properties breaks ground on residential redevelopment north of Fountain Square.
- 2013
The Avant opens
[1]The 15-story Avant apartment building opens south of Reston Town Square Park, completing the principal second phase.
- 2009
Democracy Tower and parking garage completed
[1]A nine-level parking garage topped by Democracy Tower is completed along Democracy Drive.
- 2008
South of Market offices completed
[1]Three South of Market office buildings are completed, increasing employment space.
- 2006
Residential high-rises added
[1]Three residential high-rises open west of Freedom Square.
- 2001
Two Freedom Square completed
[1]The 16-story Two Freedom Square adds further office capacity to the second phase.
Products and positioning
A walkable, amenity-rich suburban downtown that combines commercial, residential, hospitality, cultural, and public-realm uses in a transit-connected mixed-use district.
Public realm and retail district · 1990
Fountain Square and Market Street
The central public and commercial core of Reston Town Center consists of Market Street, Fountain Square, surrounding shops and restaurants, and open pedestrian-oriented avenues. Fountain Square includes Mercury Fountain, a public artwork by Saint Clair Cemin, and provides a recognizable gathering place for everyday visits, seasonal programming, and events.
Entertainment and events · 1990
The Pavilion
The Pavilion is a covered open-air venue opposite Fountain Square. During winter it operates as an ice rink, while in other seasons it hosts concerts and community events. Its dual use supports the center's positioning as an active public destination rather than a purely commercial development.
Commercial real estate · 1990
Office district
Reston Town Center's office portfolio includes the original Fountain Square buildings, Freedom Square towers, South of Market buildings, Democracy Tower, and the later 17Fifty tower. Together they form a substantial employment center integrated with retail, restaurants, housing, hospitality, parking, and public transportation.
Residential real estate · 2000
Residential district
Residential offerings include condominiums, townhomes, apartment buildings, high-rise residences, The Avant, The Signature towers, and RTC Next's Skymark. Housing development has helped turn the center into a live-work neighborhood and has increased its appeal to professionals seeking proximity to offices, restaurants, retail, and transit.
Hospitality · 1990
Hyatt Regency Reston
The Hyatt Regency hotel is part of the original Reston Town Center development and contributes lodging, meeting, and visitor services to the mixed-use district. Its location among offices, restaurants, public spaces, and entertainment venues supports both business and leisure activity.
Entertainment · 1990
Cinema
Reston Town Center includes a 13-screen cinema. The facility was renovated in 2012 and remains part of the district's entertainment mix, complementing dining, shopping, seasonal recreation, and public events.
Transit-oriented mixed-use development · 2024
RTC Next
RTC Next is the branded expansion south of the original center, on land between the W&OD Trail and the Reston Town Center Metro station. Its first completed blocks include office buildings, a hotel, and Skymark, a mixed-use residential and office tower. An elevated bridge connects it to the original center, with a further station connection planned.
Brand decisions
2018
Approval of the Reston Gateway expansionStrategyBackground
Fairfax County approved a major mixed-use development south of the existing Reston Town Center, initially referred to as Reston Gateway. The project was intended to extend the district toward the future or developing transit connection and the W&OD Trail.
Action taken
Boston Properties proceeded with a nine-block expansion that was later rebranded RTC Next. The plan combined office, residential, hotel, and public-connection elements.
Aftermath
The first four blocks were completed in 2024, including Skymark, two office buildings, and a hotel. An elevated bridge now links the expansion to the original center, while a direct bridge to the Metro station remains part of future plans.
2015
Redevelopment of surface parking north of Fountain SquareStrategyBackground
Boston Properties identified a surface parking lot north of Fountain Square as an opportunity to add density and residential capacity within the established center.
Action taken
The parking lot was redeveloped into The Signature, a pair of high-rise residential towers.
Aftermath
The Signature opened in February 2018 and reinforced the shift from a shopping-focused center toward a denser mixed-use neighborhood.
Recent events
- 2024
First RTC Next blocks completed[1]
Product launch
The first four blocks of the expansion south of the original center were completed, including two office buildings, a hotel, and the mixed-use Skymark tower.
- 2022
Reston Town Center Metro station opens[1]
Product launch
The Reston Town Center station opened on Washington Metro's Silver Line, improving access to the district from Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Dulles International Airport.
- 2020
17Fifty office tower opens[1]
Product launch
A new glass-clad office tower called 17Fifty opened across President's Street, replacing low-rise retail buildings from the original phase and continuing the district's intensification.
- 2018
The Signature residential towers open[1]
Product launch
Boston Properties completed The Signature, a pair of high-rise residential towers built on the former surface parking lot north of Fountain Square.
- 2012
The Pavilion cinema renovation completed[1]
Other
The district's 13-screen cinema underwent renovation, maintaining entertainment as a central component of the Reston Town Center visitor offering.
- 2009
South of Market and Democracy Tower phases advance[1]
Product generation
The South of Market office buildings and a parking structure topped by Democracy Tower completed a major period of expansion and increased the district's employment and parking capacity.
- 2008
RTC receives recognition as a contemporary downtown destination[1]
Other
Northern Virginia Magazine included Reston Town Center in its list of places characterized as being particularly fashionable and active, reflecting the district's regional reputation as a suburban downtown.
- 2000
Reston Town Center expansion adds major office and residential components[1]
Other
The second development phase expanded west of Library Street with Freedom Square office towers and subsequent residential and office construction, broadening the district beyond its original retail and dining role.
- 1990
First phase of Reston Town Center opens[1]
Other
The initial phase of Reston Town Center opened around Market Street, introducing office buildings, retail space, hospitality, public areas, and the development's urban-style central framework.
Sources1 sources
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