Sandbox VR Bringing ‘Holodecks’ to The Boro in Tysons
By Keith Loria January 26, 2023 2:22 pm
reprints
Sandbox VR, a virtual reality gaming company, has signed a 7,200-square-foot lease in The Boro, a mixed-use neighborhood in Tysons, Va.
The development is being built by a joint venture between The Meridian Group (TMG) and Akridge.
Last year, The Boro announced plans to deliver an extra 160,000 square feet of retail space in its Phase II expansion, in addition to the existing 255,000 square feet of retail space in Phase I, according to a statement. As development progresses, the plan will also include up to 610,000 square feet of new residences and open-air green space.
“Tysons is one of the largest areas for office and retail in the country — close in proximity to Washington, D.C., with easy access by car or Metro,” David Friedman, vice president of global real estate for Sandbox VR, said in a statement, explaining the company’s interest in opening in the mixed-use lifestyle and entertainment center.
Sandbox VR will operate at 1656 Silver Hill Drive, and feature four private rooms for virtual reality gameplay called “holodecks,” in which players explore virtual worlds, according to the statement. Equipped with a virtual reality headset, a haptic vest, a backpack and motion sensors on the wrists and ankles, players can have interactive experiences using patented motion-tracking technology that captures the movements of a player’s entire body.
The facility will open this summer, joining tenants such as Whole Foods and Showplace Icon Theater, and restaurants Circa and El Bebe.
The Boro is close to both the Greensboro and Spring Hill Metro stations on the Silver Line, adjacent to Route 7, Westpark and Greensboro Drives.
Phase II of The Boro is currently under construction and slated to open in 2025.
Ed Crilley and David Ward at H&R Retail represented the landlord in the deal, while Amy Maclaren and Lance Marine of CBRE represented the tenant.
Update: This story originally misattributed source material. This has been corrected. We apologize for the error.
Keith Loria can be reached at Kloria@commercialobserver.com.
