17Fifty — the newest office tower in Reston Town Center is nearing completion. Leidos, the full-building tenant of the 17-story building located at 1750 Presidents Street, is gearing up to move into its new headquarters by March 2020.

A spokesperson for Boston Properties told Reston Now that the top of the building has been topped off and the the work to enclose the building has been completed.

The company is now working to construct the interior space for Leidos, a Reston-based information technology contractor.

The new building has roughly 276,000 square feet. The tower is designed by Shalom Baranes Associates.

County permits for the building’s sprinkler system were recently processed.

Photos by Jay Westcott

A charity event later this month in Reston invites guests to hear from keynote speakers and vote for their favorite non-profit presentation.

Together We Give is an annual event that donates money to a local charity supporting kids. The fourth annual event will take place this year on Thursday (Oct. 17) from 6:30-9 p.m at the Leidos Conference Center (11951 Freedom Drive). Tickets cost $25.

The exact organization receiving the grant money will be decided that evening by attendees following pitches from Heeling House, Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect and Kids R First. Funding will come from audience donations and ticket sales, according to the event page.

The keynote speech will be given by Victoria Vrana of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the event Facebook page said.

Together We Give is organized by Giving Circle of Hope, a Reston-based organization that focuses on small nonprofits in the Northern Virginia area.

Image via Giving Circle of Hope

Several Teens Rob Juvenile — Police believe two to three teens assaulted a juvenile victim and stole his bike on the 1200 block of Herndon Parkway. The incident happened on August 8. [Herndon Police Department]

Texas Chainsaw Horns Concert Tonight — Enjoy rhythm and blues at the weekly summer concert series at Lake Anne Plaza from 7-9 p.m. The event is free and open for all ages. [Reston Community Center]

Leidos Secures Contract to Support Nuclear Detection Office — “The Operations Support and Studies II contract continues the Reston technology company’s work with the U.S. National Data Center, which detects and tracks nuclear-based events globally.” [The Washington Business Journal]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Kojo Nnamdi Show to Feature ‘Radical Suburbs’ Author — City Lab Senior Editor Amanda Kolson Hurley explores the histories of six suburban communities, including Reston, in her new book, “Radical Suburbs.” Hurley will join Nnamdi in a discussion on the show today at 12:32 p.m. [The Kojo Nnamdi Show]

Ryan Kerrigan Gives Out Tickets to Draft Night — The Redskins player was at the fountain in Reston Town Center on Thursday to give away tickets for Draft Night on Thursday at the Anthem. [Washington Redskins]

NASA Invests in Leidos Project — The Reston-based company is funding early-stage technology that could change what’s possible in space. NASA says the technologies have the “potential to transform human and robotic exploration of other worlds, including the Moon and Mars.” [NASA]

Red’s Table Brings on New Executive Chef — Red’s Table, located at 11150 South Lake Drive, has appointed Nelson Erazo as the new executive chef. Erazo came from Jardenea, a restaurant located at the Melrose Georgetown Hotel in D.C., where he had served as executive chef for three years.” [Reston Patch]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

What to do with 47 acres — The development team behind Reston Town Center North will present their plans for the 47-acre project to Reston Association’s Design Review Board tonight. Plans affect the local library and homeless shelter. [Reston Association]

Did someone say chocolate? — On Saturday, the Reston Farm Market will feature a milk and chocolate milk sampling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the market. [Reston Farm Market]

Leidos named “best for vets” — “Military Times named the company one of the “Best for Vets Employers for 2018.” The annual list recognizes the top 100 U.S. companies across 30 industries committed to supporting military veterans and their families through culture, recruitment, and company policies. ” [PR Newswire]

Yesterday’s storm damages Reston home — A home in Reston was damaged yesterday night. No one was home at the time. [FOX 5]

Morning newsletter resumes — After a brief hiatus, we’re bringing our a.m. newsletter, a handwritten selecgion of news to start your day, back. Expect an update between 6:15 and 6:25 a.m. every weekday.

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

Meet Reston Association Candidates Next week – There are 13 candidates running for seats on RA’s Board of Directors. Check out three opportunities to meet them. [Reston Today]

Jumping Off Ship – John Jumper is retiring from the board of directors of Leidos. The company plans to move its headquarters to a future trophy tower in Reston Town Center. [Washington Business Journal]

Vote on Renaissance Centro Project Expected Tonight – The county’s Planning Commission will vote on the Renaissance Centro project tonight. The proposal calls for replacing offices on Old Reston Avenue with 20-story condos. [Reston Now]

Enjoy “Expressions of the Soul” Today — eMotion, a local dance group with dancers ranging from ages eight to 65, will performance today at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. [Reston Community Center]

Reston-based Leidos Offering Bonuses to Find New IT Hires — The company, which is the largest IT services contractor for the federal government, is offering a $2,000 bonus for every referral that results in a new IT hire. The company posted a third-quarter operating income of $151 million in revenue, a 34 percent jump in sales. [Washington Business Journal]

Coalition for a Planned Reston Holds “One Reston” Community Meeting — The coalition mobilized Monday night in opposition to a zoning amendment that would increase Reston’s population density, among other changes. After a discussion with attendees during the open floor meeting, the group plans to submit 10 suggested changes to the legislative package before the county by Christmas in order to better manage infrastructure and development. According to Terry Maynard, President of Reston 20/20, said the meeting attracted more than 130 attendees. “A key theme throughout was the necessity of the entire Reston community working together as ‘One Reston’ to meet the challenges of shaping the Reston plan and assuring individual development proposals meet the expectations of the community,” Maynard said. [Coalition for a Planned Reston via Youtube]

Herndon Middle School Bike Shop to Give Away Bikes on Saturday — Bicycles refurbished by the after school program that meets on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, will be distribute to 10 children at the school. Recipients were provided by Cornerstones’ Neighborhood Resource Center in Herndon. Members of the club will provide and fit free helmets for recipients. [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce honored the best of the best Thursday during its annual meeting for Awards and Chamber Excellence.

Winners of this year’s ACE honors are:

• Large Business of the Year: Leidos
• Medium Business of the Year: Not Your Average Joe’s
• Small Business of the Year: Pinot’s Palette
• Member of the Year: Kevin Taylor, Communicate by Design
• New Member of the Year: Jennifer Rhodes, Tagence
• Volunteer of the Year: Dave and JoAnne Adams, Dave & JoAnne Adams Group — Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
• President’s Award: Michael Delpierre, Conversion Pipeline
• Pinnacle Award: Angela Inzerillo, Impact Business Solutions
• Committee of the Year: Ambassadors Committee

https://twitter.com/LeidosInc/status/877940945970380800

The GRCC Board for the coming year will include:

• Matt Brennan, Brennan & Waite PLC
• Mike Coogan, Leidos
• Michael Delpierre, Conversion Pipeline
• Kevin Krestch, Hyatt Regency Reston
• John Dierdorff, Reston Hospital Center
• Mike Franz, SOSi
• Bruce Gemmill, John Marshall Bank
• Leila Gordon, Reston Community Center
• Kelly McSweeney, Google
• Maggie Parker, Comstock
• Laura Siko, Northern Virginia Community College
• Mark Watts, CST Group CPAs PC

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce provides programming, education, connections and advocacy for its 670 members and organizations in the Dulles Corridor.

As the federal government inches closer to a possible shutdown at the end of the week, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) says the local economy would be severely affected if no agreement is found.

“As we witnessed during the 2013 Republican government shutdown, Northern Virginia’s economy would be significantly affected. That 16-day shutdown cost nearly $24 billion in lost economic output,” Connolly said in a prepared statement Monday. “It is a reckless way to govern that hurts all Americans and must be avoided.”

The 2013 shutdown is estimated to have cost more than $217 million per day in federal and contractor wages in D.C. metropolitan area. In addition to a large number of federal employees, Reston is home to many government contractors including Leidos, which said in a statement to investors earlier this year that a shutdown could “result in our incurrence of substantial labor or other costs without reimbursement under customer contracts, or the delay or cancellation of key programs, which could have a negative effect on our cash flows and adversely affect our future results.”

Connolly put the blame for a potential government shutdown squarely on the shoulders of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.):

“If Speaker Ryan wants to resort to hostage-taking over a border wall, then Republicans will own this shutdown,” the congressman said. “If he is willing to work with Democrats and pass a clean funding measure, however, then I am confident we can keep government open and working for our constituents.”

Defense contractor Leidos is considering leaving its current headquarters in Reston Town Center (11951 Freedom Drive) for a new home, the Washington Business Journal reports.

Citing sources close to the company, the WBJ says the expansion in workforce brought about by the company’s merger with Lockheed Martin last year has it reevaluating its space needs. Leidos employees about 33,000 people worldwide, according to information it provides to investors.

According to the WBJ report, Comstock Properties’ 1900 Reston Metro Plaza is among the properties being considered as a potential new headquarters for Leidos. Still seeking an anchor tenant, the site was considered by Nestlé before that company chose Arlington for its U.S. headquarters. The Helmut Jahn-designed building, adjacent to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station, is currently in its final stages of construction.

WBJ says Boston Properties, owner of Leidos’ current home, has proposed new headquarters space for the firm as well.

Reston-based Firm Could See Trump Bump — Defense contractors aren’t the only ones who could benefit from increased defense spending under the Trump administration, according to market analysts. Reston-based Leidos Holdings and McLean-based Booz Allen Hamilton could also see gains if the federal government seeks to modernize IT systems and increase cybersecurity. [Washington Business Journal]

Local Woman Aims to Drop Pounds in 2017 — How easy is it to lose 60 pounds? It’s only Jan. 2, but Rachel Krans is already more than halfway there with the help of Reston’s Lifetime Athletic Club. Though Krans has already shed 35 pounds, she wants to lose 25 more in 2017. [WUSA9]

Notable Obituaries: Mark S. Greenberg — Mark S. Greenberg, 70, of Reston, died Nov. 28. Greenberg was a lobbyist for education, transportation, defense and municipal issues. He also served as a special assistant for the Reagan administration, and in the Senate and House offices of Paul S. Trible Jr. (R-Va.). [Washington Post]

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Reston-based Leidos has announced a multiyear sponsorship deal with soccer’s D.C. United.

Leidos, a national security, health and engineering solutions company headquartered at Reston Town Center, will have its logoprominently featured on the front of the Majoe League Soccer team’s jersey, displayed throughout the stadium and all of the team’s marketing and media properties, a Leidos spokesman said.

The sponsorship will also enable both Leidos and D.C. United to engage the community and charitable partners through events, including Armed Forces Week activities and other custom programs that will be developed throughout the partnership.

Leidos spun off from SAIC last year.

“Soccer is a growing, global sport and we are a growing company with our eyes on the future,” John Jumper, Leidos Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, said in a statement. “This sponsorship will help enable us to get exposure not only locally, but throughout the country and internationally.”

D.C. United ended its partnership with Herndon-based Volkswagen of America last year. Terms of the Leidos sponsorship were not disclosed, but VW paid an estimated $2.8 million annually between 2008 and 2012 before agreeing to a lower — but undisclosed — figure last season, The Washington Post reported. Volkswagen declined to exercise a contract option with United in December.

“We are extremely excited for the opportunity to partner with such an innovative company that recognizes the value of our sport and our brand, both here and around the world,” said Jason Levien, Managing Partner of D.C. United. “We look forward to many successful years working together to help accomplish each other’s goals. We thank Leidos and their 23,000 global employees for their support and friendship.”

D.C. United opens its season March 8 at RFK Stadium.