- Starwood Capital will develop two data centers on an 8-acre site in Herndon, VA, formerly used as a Washington Commanders training facility.
- The project expands the adjacent 60-acre Renaissance Technology Park, already entitled for 2.1M SF of data center space.
- One of the new buildings, “Building E,” will span 406K SF, with further details on “Building F” still undisclosed.
A New Chapter For A Historic Site
Once the training ground for the Washington Commanders in the 1970s and ’80s, an 8-acre property in Herndon is getting a new purpose. It will soon be home to two large-scale data center facilities, as reported by Commercial Observer. Starwood Capital Group acquired the site from Word of Grace Christian Church in 2023 for $25M.
The Project Details
Named the Word of Grace Data Centers, the development will include two buildings: “Building E” and “Building F.” Building E is planned at 406K SF. The size of Building F hasn’t been disclosed yet. However, the naming of both buildings points to a clear expansion of Starwood’s adjacent Renaissance Technology Park.
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A Strategic Location
Starwood’s Renaissance Technology Park already spans 60 acres. It is entitled for 2.1M SF of data center space, making it Fairfax County’s largest such campus.
The campus already includes four Amazon-leased facilities; however, it remains unclear whether Amazon will play a role in the new project.
The former NFL site sits just north of Western High School, a new $150M public school slated to open in 2026.
Why It Matters
As Northern Virginia remains the epicenter of the global data center boom, Starwood’s continued investment further underscores the region’s long-term strategic importance. Moreover, it highlights the area’s critical role in supporting the growing digital infrastructure. Repurposing older properties — even former sports facilities — shows the growing demand for suitable land. Limited availability and high power needs are driving the trend.
What’s Next
Driven by strong regional momentum and supported by ongoing entitlement efforts, Starwood’s conversion of the Herndon site reflects current market trends. Moving forward, it also signals that more unconventional properties could be next in line for redevelopment. Demand for data centers continues to grow rapidly.
