Reston residents and local government workers came together Saturday for the Grand Opening of the North County Governmental Center. Several speakers introduced the center, which was officially opened to the public following a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The new building almost doubles the size of the original, which has been turned into a parking lot across the street. The center houses the Reston District Police Station as well as the Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s office and a large public room available for use by any Reston resident.
“This building will provide the community with more space for community activities,” said Sharon Bulova, the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Bulova said she believes the added space will allow for the District Office and the police to work more efficiently.
The former building, which was nearly 34 years old, was “among the first buildings to provide county services in North County and the Reston area of Fairfax County,” according to Catherine Hudgins, the Hunter Mill District Supervisor.
“I’m excited to continue in the same vein of serving our community with our public safety officers as our partners, and looking for change,” Hudgins said. “As Reston and North County will be seeing change … those services will also find themselves in accommodating facilities.”
The new building cost $18 million according to Reston Now, and features public artwork both in front of the building and lining the hallways. The sculpture in front, created by local artist Matthew Duffy, is made from hand-bent, welded stainless steel. It features two hands reaching toward each other, meant to represent the mutual respect between the government and the community.
“I was hoping to get people coming into the building, seeing the sculpture and then maybe thinking, ‘I’m about to go work with some of my fellow citizens,’” Duffy said in a speech during the Grand Opening. “And I’m going to conduct myself in a respectful and understanding way.”