IDA Celebrates New Potomac Yard HQ As Metro Opening Nears

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Institute for Defense Analyses, a nonprofit corporation that runs federally-funded research and development centers, held a ribbon cutting Tuesday for its new headquarters in Potomac Yard.

Institute for Defense Analyses, often referred to as IDA, is a nonprofit corporation that runs three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: the IDA Systems and Analyses Center, IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute, and IDA Center for Communications and Computing. The new headquarters at 730 E. Glebe Road is a newly-constructed 370,000-square-foot facility with more meeting space and classified work space.

For approximately 40 years, IDA had been located at Alexandria's Mark Center. Relocating to Potomac Yard puts IDA closer to the Pentagon and near the soon-to-open Potomac Yard Metro station, Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and Arlington's Amazon headquarters.

"You are on the ground floor of one of the most strategic places in our city and for the future of our city," said Mayor Justin Wilson in remarks at the ribbon cutting.

IDA President Norty Schwartz told Patch access to the Pentagon is "vitally important" for IDA employees. When the Potomac Yard Metro station opens, it will be a few stops from the Pentagon Metro station.

"The new facility will provide modern infrastructure including the Metro station...substantially more meeting space, substantially more classified space, and it will place us in a thriving Northern Virginia community of innovators including Virginia Tech, including Amazon, for many years to come," said Schwartz in remarks at the ribbon cutting.

Schwartz and Wilson agreed the future Metro station was a factor in IDA moving to Potomac Yard. Wilson told Patch the station is on track to open in the fall, as the bulk of the remaining work will happen over the spring and summer. A delay of at least five months was previously announced, setting the station opening to no sooner than fall 2022. The city is working with Metro to set a firm date for the opening, Wilson said.

Until the Potomac Yard Metro is open, IDA is providing shuttle service from the Pentagon and Mark Center.

The new IDA headquarters is made up of two connected towers with eight floors each. The new headquarters is LEED certified and meets WELL Building standards of health and wellness for occupants. Construction on the new IDA headquarters began in August 2019 and was completed within three years.

By running Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, IDA provides expertise and analysis on U.S. security and science policy. The new facility offers new amenities and technology in offices, project rooms, labs and conference space. The conference center features an auditorium that can host up to 300 people along with breakout rooms, a green room, and other large conference rooms.

North Potomac Yard, the new home of IDA has been in planning for decades. Originally a rail yard that was decommissioned in 1989, the site became a field needing environmental remediation.

While the land use plan for North Potomac Yard was made in 1989 and revised in 2010, development has started to take shape in the last decade. Wilson noted the impact of city investments in things like the new Metro station and the bus rapid transit that has led to decisions like IDA moving its headquarters. Even before IDA's move, new headquarters for the American Physical Therapy Association and National Industries for the Blind opened in Potomac Yard. Aside from a growing commercial presence, residential developments have also appeared in North Potomac Yard.

"It's very exciting to watch it all come to fruition," Wilson said.

A more recent factor in Potomac Yard's continuing growth was Amazon's decision to locate its second headquarters just north in Arlington's Crystal City. Along with Amazon's announcement, Virginia Tech announced plans to build an Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard. The Innovation Campus is using temporary space near IDA and broke ground on its first academic building that is expected to open in 2024. Schwartz said Virginia Tech's president has already spoken with IDA employees, and there may be areas of collaboration with the campus such as mentoring and internships.

IDA's move from Mark Center opened up space for the city to relocate some of its own services. The city plans to colocate the Alexandria Health Department and Department of Community and Human Services at 4850 Mark Center Drive in 2023. The current Department of Community and Human Services building on Mount Vernon Avenue was purchased by Bonaventure and is being leased by the city. As the city plans to relocate the department, Bonaventure submitted a plan for a residential redevelopment, as first reported by Washington Business Journal. Bonaventure declined comment to Patch on the development plan.