Renovating and redeveloping its 26-acre campus in Tysons, Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C., Capital One has built a 31-story office tower housing 12,000 employees, a parking structure, dining, retail shops, hotel, apartment building, park, and Capital One Hall as part of the new Capital One Center.

As patrons approach the main entrance of the Capital One Hall theatre and performing arts venue, they are transported back to the Gatsby age of entertainment with the gleaming gold-cladded, box office wall cladding, column covers and awning continuing into the interior of the lobby.

Looking to make a splash with the entranceway, the cladding also had to be suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments. Based on metal’s ability to withstand the elements, along with its versatility, metallic luster, flatness and timeless look, HGA’s architectural team selected copper alloy metal.

Seamlessly flowing from the inside out, the durable, yet lightweight metal worked well with the lighting, sound and other elements of construction.

A total of 3,366 square feet of 1.5mm Aurubis Nordic Royal was fabricated by MG McGrath into “gold” panels for the theatre. The metal is a mix of copper, zinc and aluminum to form the copper alloy metal which gives the panels their golden, metallic appearance. The material has a thin protective oxide layer which thickens when exposed to the atmosphere.

Unlike traditional copper, which develops into a blue-green patina over time, the alloy panels experience limited oxidation, evolving into a more matte appearance.

The 125,000 square foot building features a 1,600-seat performance hall and the Vault, a 223-seat black box theatre. There’s also the Atrium, a versatile space organized around four terraced levels with space for 1,600 people, and the rooftop Perch park.

The 2 ½-acre Perch is a community space with a beer garden, miniature golf course, gardens, a game plaza, dog park and live music five nights a week.

Investing in Fairfax County, Capital One is looking to put the new Capital One Hall on the map as a hot spot for concerts, shows and larger community events.

The architects drew their design inspiration from timeless national theatres like Radio City Music Hall in creating the venue’s elegant, classic design with its round lighting and glamorous gold polish.

“The Hall is inspired by the architectural elements of the 1920s and ’30s—think classic American stages like DC’s National Theatre,” wrote Renee Sklarew, in a NorthernVirginia magazine article.

HGA’s sustainable design incorporates construction materials made from local and recycled materials, and coatings with low and no emissions. The metal cladding helps maintain the building’s temperature by reflecting the light back into the room.

Tracking LEED Gold, the facility was designed with water-efficient landscaping, and stormwater quality and quantity controls exceeding standard performance. The high-performance glazed façade optimizes daylighting and views while mitigating solar gains and reducing energy loads. Zoned heating and cooling systems incorporate energy recovery systems. Taken together, the performance hall is anticipated to achieve more than 27 percent energy savings below code.