University eyes space at Campus Commons offices in Reston

A university is eyeing an 8,709-square-foot spot at an office building in Reston.

Trine University, a private nonprofit college that offers programs concentrated in science, technology, engineering, and math as well as business, is seeking Fairfax County’s permission to use a part of 1881 Campus Commons for the institution.

The Indiana-based university hopes to include three classrooms, two breakout rooms, and two offices to accommodate no more than 160 students and three faculty members at a time.

Classes would largely take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays.

In an April 25 application to the county, the university notes that the Wiehle-Reston East area is identified as a “preferred location” for higher learning institutions in county planning documents.

“The utilization of a portion of one floor of the existing office building for an educational center associated with a university is in keeping with the intent of the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance regulations,” the application states.

The proposal is in the early planning stages and has not yet been accepted for review by staff.

The building is 90% leased to tenants like SOS International, 3M Cogent and Maersk. The nearly 245,000-square-foot building is managed by MRP Realty.