Lee Center Study
Location
5722 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22207, Arlington, VA 22203 View Map
38.8948853821024,-77.14333799318057
5722 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22207 ,
Arlington, VA 22203
5722 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22207 ,
Arlington, VA 22203
Lee Center Study
StatusPlanning
A study exploring several options for a future public use of the Lee Center was completed in summer 2025.
About the Project
The Lee Center building is at the end of its useful life because the major infrastructure elements are aging rapidly, and the necessary repairs will require significant capital investments. The current building does not meet accessibility standards and contains asbestos, non-compliant restrooms and elevator, aging windows, and an HVAC system past its useful life.
It is currently vacant because LAC studios, the sole County program that was left in the building, moved out in summer 2025 into a new shared arts studios at the consolidated Cultural Affairs building at 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive. A future use for the 2-acre site has not been determined.
From March – August 2025, Arlington County partnered with the architecture firm CGS to conduct a study providing conceptual cost estimates for the work needed to reopen the existing building or portions of it, to public use standards within the existing footprint, and options for expanding the building's size. View a summary of key findings, facility assessment and the feasibility study.
Note that this study is not final; the County has an open task with CGS to further refine 3 concepts for more detailed cost estimates. Any references to programming are strictly notional as future programming at the site has not been determined and was outside of the scope of the study.
Engagement
The County has no plans for a formal engagement process at this time but will conduct a broad engagement soliciting diverse viewpoints before any decisions are made about the future of the site. These findings are provided to help inform community conversations about the potential for the site and other neighborhood needs. Feedback on this study will help inform the future of the Lee Center and also will be weighed against other County-wide priorities in the upcoming Capital Improvement Plan cycle.
Please contact Ryan Whitney, Facilities Planning Manager, to submit any questions or comments about the study.
Funding
The FY25-FY34 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) provides $250,000 to study options for the Lee Community Center. Funding for design ($1.2M) and construction ($14.1M) is included for planning purposes in FY31 and FY32. Note that existing funding estimates in the current CIP are capital costs only; there is no operating budget available for the center.