Rosslyn BID Announces O2: Outdoor Office and Unveils New Images for Free, Physically-Distant Workspace in Gateway Park
Coming Mid-October, O2 is an Innovative Model for Community Wellness, Connectedness and Creativity
Image Credit: Design Foundry, more images can be found here
Rosslyn, VA – September 23, 2020 – Today, the Rosslyn BID announced a new, outdoor workspace coming to Gateway Park in mid-October called O2, which stands for Outdoor Office. Prioritizing safety and productivity, O2 leverages existing infrastructure and natural elements at Rosslyn’s Gateway Park to create a dynamic business-meets-fresh-air environment. With a vision that centers around wellness — mental, physical, and social — O2 is a retreat for professionals looking for an inspiring change of scenery.
Centrally-located in Rosslyn’s urban core, O2 will provide distinctly separate and easy-to-use spaces to foster a comfortable and connected work atmosphere for employees looking to come back to the neighborhood or residents needing a change from their home office. This free and safe environment is designed to make working outside a breeze, including an easy-to-use reservation system, and trained Rosslyn BID Ambassadors onsite to sanitize workspaces and maintain streamlined operations.
O2’s combination of natural elements and central setting within the neighborhood's iconic park is sure to inspire productivity and true blue-sky thinking. More details, including cleaning precautions and reservation information, will be available closer to mid-October when O2 will be open to the public for reservations. Renderings of the forthcoming installation can be found here.
“We know that safe outdoor public spaces are key to maintaining mental and physical health and helping people feel connected to where they spend their time,” said Mary-Claire Burick, President of the Rosslyn BID. “O2 is an extension of the wonderful office community we have in Rosslyn and we’re excited to bring it to Arlington.”
This year, the Rosslyn BID has creatively evolved its placemaking efforts to adapt to safe social distancing guidelines by adding new sanitizing wipe stations around the neighborhood, placing all furniture 6-8 feet apart, and transforming underutilized spaces by adding seating and continuing to safely distance people as they enjoy the outdoors. These same procedures will be used throughout O2. The Rosslyn BID Ambassadors, who keep Rosslyn’s streets clean, provide hospitality and neighborhood information, have increased their cleaning protocols for high-touch zones in public areas and surfaces throughout Rosslyn.
The Rosslyn BID has enacted several other programs to assist businesses and residents since Virginia’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order was passed in mid-March:
- Rosslyn Ready Phase I focused on providing customized digital resources and access to industry experts to help Rosslyn businesses create individualized strategies for reentry. Businesses received specific guidance in the form of digital resources and a webinar series where they could ask questions of renowned experts, including Gensler, Streetsense, Hillmann Consulting, and Bean, Kinney & Korman. Over 130 businesses and restaurants signed up to be part of the program.
- Rosslyn Ready Phase II launched in June and focused on readying the public realm with hundreds of new signs, stickers, banners, and instructional materials distributed throughout Rosslyn in key high-traffic areas. Rosslyn’s landlords and building owners joined the campaign by providing guidance both internally to their tenants and outside of their buildings for safe practices.
- The #RosslynRewards program and Rosslyn restaurant directory benefit both restaurants and consumers by encouraging residents to frequent Rosslyn restaurants to earn gift cards to those establishments.
- The Rosslyn BID contributed $100,000 to Arlington County’s Small Business GRANT Program, which was reserved for Rosslyn small businesses in need of funding.
The Rosslyn BID has also adapted many of its 200+ annual events and activations to continue to foster social connections for the community in new, innovative ways through virtual offerings like:
About the Rosslyn BID:
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) is a designated 17-block mixed-use, urban center in the heart of Rosslyn, Virginia. Through a public/private partnership with Arlington County, the Rosslyn BID provides services for our 25,000 employees, 15,000 residents, and 1.2 million visitors a year to enhance, grow, and connect the neighborhood.
Media Contact:
Alex Miller Murphy
717-903-9302