St. John Properties, Inc. initiates construction of Arcola Center in Dulles

Speculative construction activities are underway on Phase I of Arcola Center, a 34-acre business community located at the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway and Dulles West Boulevard in Dulles, Virginia. St. John Properties, Inc., a full-service commercial real estate firm recently broke ground on four buildings, comprising 100,000 square feet of flex/R&D space and representing Phase I of the development plan.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors granted final approval to St. John Properties for a zoning change of Arcola Center to reflect existing and expected market demand for flex/office product. St. John Properties now expects to develop 10 buildings, comprising between 340,000 and 450,000 square feet of R&D/office/flex buildings at the site. Prior to approval by the Board of Supervisors, the project received unanimous approval from the Loudoun County Planning Commission.

“St. John Properties regular develops more than one million square feet of speculative space annually across the country and we expect to exceed that total this year,” explained Matt Holbrook, Regional Partner, Virginia and Central Maryland for St. John Properties. “We have been active in Loudoun County for more than two decades and, in that time, have delivered more than 20 buildings which serve the commercial real estate needs of more than 150 companies. This area does not have enough of the flex/R&D product, which we are developing now, to support the local companies that need this type of business to operate and grow their business. We are doing our part to help grow the regional economy.”

Each of the four buildings will range from 22,240 to 45,120 square feet of space and feature free parking and flexible interior floor sizes to support the real estate needs of professional services, tech firms, light manufacturing, retail-type and community uses, logistics companies, and a variety of other end-users.

“St. John Properties could choose to develop real estate product that is more lucrative but, instead, they are committed to doing what is best for Loudoun County and they should be commended for that,” stated Buddy Rizer, Executive Director of the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development. “Developing this type of product builds balance in our County and provides more jobs than you can ever imagine.”

“Loudoun County has more than three million square feet of flex and warehouse space, with a vacancy rate of under one percent,” added Ashburn District Supervisor Mike Turner. “This flex/R&D product is among the main pillars of economic activity in Loudoun County and it is gratifying to see Arcola Center moving forward.”

“With the struggles of retail development over the past decade, from the rise of ecommerce to the fallout of bricks and mortar retail from the pandemic, the highest and best use for this property isn’t pure retail, but rather a business park with a mix of uses. This business park will be a long-term job generator and a home to businesses both small and large. It will add to and diversify the tax base of Loudoun, while contributing significantly to the economic health of the region. And more locally, this project will bring amenities, services and new vitality to the area,” Holbrook added.

Arcola Center is approximately five miles from the Dulles Toll Road and Dulles International Airport, 11 miles from Leesburg, 16 miles from Tysons Corner and 30 miles from downtown Washington, D.C.

Pictured in the photo from left to right is Ashburn District Supervisor Mike Turner, Matt Holbrook, Regional Partner, Virginia and Central Maryland for St. John Properties and Buddy Rizer, Executive Director of the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development.