Century Center
A 1970s office and retail complex in Crystal City Virginia is the site for this streetscape renovation. Two office towers sit upon a two story plinth, the roof of which was originally designed as pedestrian access to the towers. Service functions were at street level. While the client hired an architect to create three new lobbies within the previous service area, Floura Teeter was brought on to compliment the new entrances with a vibrant streetscape. One project challenge concerned an underground parking garage below the new streetscape, a structure that presented weight and depth constraints. Addressing these constraints, FTLA designed raised planters, crystalline in form, with carefully sculpted berms. The planters provide the necessary depth for the street trees while also incorporating benches for relaxation, lunch, and break times. Again playing off the “Crystal” City motif, the crystalline-shaped planters are carried through into the streetscape’s walkway, with pressed paving patterns that fragment into smaller and smaller crystals.
This project is currently under construction.