Arlington to Cut Ribbon on New Penrose Square on Thursday

Arlington County will celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Penrose Square development at 4 p.m. Thursday in front of the new development at 2503 Columbia Pike.

The public square features a two-piece sculpture by Richard Deutsch called "Echo," a tree-covered upper terrace with tables and chairs, an inner plaza with a water feature and small gardens.

The $2 million project encompasses more than 17,000 square feet. The public art was inspired by the "Three Sisters" radio towers built by the Navy in 1913 and responsible for broadcasting the first trans-Atlantic radio signal two years later, according to a county news release.

The Arlington County Board approved the project in October 2011 — along with $425,000 for the public art.