Walk out of the Rosslyn Metro station and look up. You can't miss it. 1919 N Lynn St, known more formally as Central Place Tower, basically owns the Northern Virginia skyline. It is the tallest building in the DC metropolitan area outside of the Washington Monument, which is a weirdly specific flex, but a flex nonetheless. Standing at 390 feet, it literally stares down across the Potomac at the National Mall.
Most people see a glass monolith. If you’re a local, you probably just know it as the building with the observation deck or the place where CEB (now Gartner) set up shop. But there is a whole lot more going on with this property than just a high floor count. It represents a massive bet on Rosslyn's transition from a boring "commuter pit stop" to a genuine urban hub.
Honestly, it's kind of wild how much this single address changed the vibe of the neighborhood.
The Architectural Ego of 1919 N Lynn St
Designing a building in the shadow of Washington, D.C. is a nightmare for architects. You have the Height of Buildings Act of 1910 over in the District, which keeps everything squat and horizontal. Then you have Rosslyn, which acts like the pressure valve for all that vertical ambition. 1919 N Lynn St was designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, the same folks who worked on Grand Central Terminal and the Empire State Building’s concourse. They didn't just want a box.
They went with a split-tower concept. It’s actually part of a twin-tower development, paired with its residential sibling. The office tower at 1919 N Lynn St is the alpha of the pair. It features this striking vertical fin that lights up at night, turning the building into a literal beacon.
You've got over 560,000 square feet of office space here. The floor plates are massive—roughly 25,000 square feet. That matters because big tech and consulting firms hate being chopped up across tiny floors. They want open space where their employees can accidentally run into each other and "collaborate" or whatever the current buzzword is. The floor-to-ceiling glass isn't just for show; it offers a panoramic view that makes you feel like you’re piloting a giant glass ship over the Potomac.
Why the CEB Move Changed Everything
For a long time, Rosslyn was where government contractors went to die. It was gray. It was concrete. It was "functional." When CEB (The Corporate Executive Board) announced they were moving their global headquarters to 1919 N Lynn St, it was a seismic shift. They took up about 350,000 square feet.
This wasn't just a lease. It was a statement.
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By bringing thousands of high-earning professionals into the heart of Rosslyn, they forced the retail scene to catch up. Suddenly, you didn't just have a CVS and a Dunkin'. You had high-end dining and better public spaces. Gartner eventually acquired CEB, and they’ve maintained a massive presence there. The building became a magnet. When you have an anchor tenant like that, other businesses follow because they want to be near the "smart money."
The View of D.C. You Can't Get Anywhere Else
If you’ve lived in Arlington for more than a week, someone has probably told you to go to the Observation Deck at CEB Tower. It’s located at 1919 N Lynn St, and for a while, it was the coolest "secret" spot in the city.
It offers 360-degree views. You can see the Pentagon, the National Cathedral, the Air Force Memorial, and obviously the entire National Mall. It’s higher than the Old Post Office tower in D.C. It’s a perspective that reinforces just how close Rosslyn is to the seat of power. You’re basically looking down on the people who make the laws.
There’s a tension there, though. The deck has faced various opening and closing schedules over the years, often tied to private events or corporate security. But when it’s accessible, it’s arguably the best photography spot in the entire mid-Atlantic region.
The Logistics of a Power Address
Let’s talk about the "boring" stuff that actually makes 1919 N Lynn St worth billions.
- The Metro Factor: It is quite literally steps from the Rosslyn Metro station (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines). You can get to Reagan National Airport in ten minutes. You can be at Foggy Bottom in five. In the world of commercial real estate, this is called "transit-oriented development," but in human terms, it just means you don't need a car to work here.
- Sustainability: It’s LEED Gold certified. In 2026, that’s basically the floor for any building that wants to attract top-tier tenants. High-performance glass, energy-efficient HVAC—it’s all there to keep the "ESG" (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores high for the corporate tenants.
- The Plaza: The building doesn't just sit on a sidewalk. It’s integrated into a 15,000-square-foot public plaza. This was a trade-off with Arlington County. The developers got to build higher than normally allowed, and in exchange, they gave the public a place to sit, eat lunch, and watch outdoor movies.
Does 1919 N Lynn St Still Matter in a Remote World?
The "office is dead" narrative has been pounded into our heads for years now. But look at the occupancy rates for Trophy-class buildings in Rosslyn versus the older, Class B or C buildings. The "flight to quality" is real.
Companies aren't ditching offices entirely; they are ditching bad offices.
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1919 N Lynn St is the definition of a "destination office." If you’re trying to force employees back to the desk, it’s a lot easier to do when the desk has a view of the Lincoln Memorial and a high-end gym in the basement. JBG SMITH, the real estate investment trust (REIT) behind much of the National Landing and Rosslyn development, knows this. They’ve doubled down on the "amenity war."
We've seen Rosslyn evolve from a 9-to-5 ghost town into a "24-hour neighborhood." People actually live here now. They go to the gym here. They eat at places like Open Road or Salt. 1919 N Lynn St is the anchor for that entire ecosystem. If this building failed, Rosslyn would stumble. But it’s not failing; it’s thriving because it offers something a home office in the suburbs can't: a sense of being "in it."
Navigating the Competition
It’s not the only big dog on the block. You have the Nestlé USA headquarters just down the street at 1812 N Moore St. That building is actually slightly taller if you count the decorative spire, which leads to some hilarious architectural bickering.
Then you have the massive Amazon HQ2 development in Crystal City (National Landing). You’d think Amazon moving in would hurt Rosslyn, but it’s actually done the opposite. It’s raised the profile of the entire "Northern Virginia Tech Corridor." Rosslyn is now seen as the sophisticated older brother to the newer, flashier HQ2 area.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Location
People think 1919 N Lynn St is just for "big business."
While Gartner is the big name, the building and the surrounding plaza serve as a hub for the community. The "Central Place" development was designed to break the "Rosslyn Canyon" effect—that feeling of being trapped between giant, cold walls of glass. By creating the pedestrian throughway and the plaza, the developers actually made the area walkable.
It’s also not as "corporate" as it looks. The retail at the base includes things like Tatte Bakery & Cafe, which brings a much-needed neighborhood feel to a skyscraper. It’s a mix of high-stakes global consulting and people just trying to get a decent croissant.
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Actionable Insights for Using the Space
If you’re heading to 1919 N Lynn St, whether for a meeting, a job interview, or just to gawk at the architecture, here is the "insider" way to do it.
Skip the Car
Parking in Rosslyn is a nightmare and expensive. The garage at Central Place is modern, but you’ll pay through the nose. Use the Metro. If you must drive, look for street parking several blocks up the hill toward Courthouse and walk down. You’ll save $20 and get some cardio.
The "Power" Lunch
If you’re trying to impress someone, don't just stay in the building. Walk a block over to some of the newer spots that have cropped up in the last year. However, if you're in a rush, the ground-floor retail at 1919 N Lynn St is actually high-quality. Tatte is great, but it gets crowded at 10:00 AM. Plan accordingly.
Photography Tips
The best time to photograph the building isn't during the day. It’s at "blue hour"—the 20 minutes right after sunset. The way the blue LEDs on the tower's fin interact with the darkening sky is spectacular. For the best angle, head across the Key Bridge toward Georgetown and look back.
For Business Owners
If you're looking for office space, recognize that 1919 N Lynn St is "Trophy" class. You are paying for the view and the prestige. If you don't need to impress clients or recruit top-tier tech talent, you might find better value in the "B+ " buildings in the Ballston-Rosslyn corridor. But if your brand is about being at the top, this is the address.
Check the Observation Deck Status
Before you hike up there, check the official "The View of DC" website or social media. They frequently close for private corporate buyouts. There is nothing more frustrating than getting to the lobby and being told a private party has the top floor for the night.
Rosslyn is no longer just a place you pass through to get to D.C. It’s a destination in its own right, and 1919 N Lynn St is the reason why. It proved that you could build a world-class skyscraper in Virginia and actually fill it with people who want to be there. Whether you’re an architecture nerd or just looking for a cool spot to see the fireworks on the 4th of July, this building is a landmark that isn't going anywhere.