New FBI building to aid Prince William County growth

Manassas (Map, News) - As construction continues on the 238,000-square-foot FBI building near Manassas, Prince William County officials are eagerly anticipating the new arrival.

The FBI Northern Virginia Resident Offices relocation from Tysons Corner will bring 300 to 350 employees to a 1,500-acre office park considered critical for the region’s growth. The construction is expected to be completed in November.

“I think the biggest facet of it is that it brings sort of an anchor to the business park and a recognizable name,” Prince William County economic development spokesman Jason Grant said.

Innovation@Prince William launched 15 years ago as a base for the George Mason University Life Sciences Campus and a magnet for high-tech employers. While commercial tenants arrived more than a decade ago, the park has developed a strong law-enforcement presence, including the Northern Virginia Forensic Lab and a Prince William County Police Department branch.

The location made sense to FBI officials because of Prince William County’s growing population, more affordable housing and available space to build a stand-alone, secure five-story facility.

FBI spokeswoman Debbie Weierman said while employees expressed concern about the longer driving distance to case subjects in other counties and Washington, the move is in the best interests of the agency.

“This is the center of the geographic area we cover,” Weierman said. “We found we needed to get us a new and bigger building that would be more safe.”

But relocating the FBI from Tysons Corner to the $32.6 million facility will force some tweaks in the rules governing the complex. For instance, the county planning commission reviewed possible changes Wednesday to allow gas pumps and vehicle servicing on site, which were originally prohibited.

“Some of the older regulations are no longer in sync with the park,” said Matt Arceari, with the Prince William County Planning Department.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com