The central focus of The Piazza at Tysons is to create a people-focused urban setting centered on a piazza and an inclusive and functional civic focal point for the neighborhood.

The vision for this project originates with the Piazza—a unique development of nearly two acres at grade, accessible from the sidewalk level on three sides of the city block. The soul of a piazza is connection and community, in an open-air environment that is framed by, and integrally related to, buildings with a distinct and unmistakable sense of place. It is a concept that prioritizes the pedestrian experience, and this priority is evidenced in the design of the site, which separates automobile traffic as well as parking into a separate plane away from the pedestrian realm. The surrounding sidewalks and streetscape are an integral part of the overall experience, as the design embraces and draws in neighbors from adjacent developed projects. With close proximity to the Spring Hill Metro station, pedestrian connectivity is key, but the goal here is loftier than simply creating a great mixed-use environment where people can live, work and play. The Piazza at Tysons is designed to become a truly unique neighborhood, centered on an outdoor urban “living room”, inclusive and warm, full of life, color and energy, and a focus of community pride and identity—in other words, a real place with a real soul.

The design of the Piazza at Tysons without parking podiums offers fantastic opportunities for massing in a warm, approachable scale. The concept of an “Amalfi Coast” style stacking of smaller structures along the Leesburg Pike side of the site provides visual intrigue and activation along Leesburg Pike, without overwhelming the streetscape.

With such a large scale project, the goal of the design is to create a space that is both unique and timeless while at the same time light and effortless. With soft and rounded corners, the building is able to move effortlessly without the sharpness of corners or lines. Further, with balconies wrapping the building softly and the incorporation of planter boxes to add texture and bring greenery up to the building, the structures massing is significantly softened.

The Piazza at Tysons: An Urban Planning Perspective

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