NSF to remain in Alexandria, but in a smaller building

The headquarters of the National Science Foundation will remain in Alexandria but in a smaller office, according to a joint announcement Friday by the NSF and the U.S. General Services Administration, which manages the federal government‘s real estate.

The new NSF headquarters will be located at the 382,000-square-foot Randolph Building at 401 Dulany St. in the Carlyle neighborhood on the same campus as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In June, the GSA announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development would relocate its headquarters and about 2,700 employees from Washington, D.C., to the NSF’s current headquarters at 2415 Eisenhower Ave. in Alexandria, where it occupies about 661,000 square feet.

“This relocation enables the U.S. National Science Foundation to remain in Alexandria while making responsible use of federal facilities and supporting the needs of our workforce and the research community,” Brian Stone, who is performing the duties of NSF director, said in a statement. “Co-location with the [USPTO] will also strengthen both of our abilities to translate discoveries to innovation.”

About 1,600 employees work at the NSF, according to the announcement.

HUD leaders had previously complained that the Robert C. Weaver building — its current headquarters — is plagued by severe long-term infrastructure, safety, health and operational challenges.

Michael Peters, GSA’s public buildings service commissioner, said the move to Alexandria will save $500 million in deferred maintenance as well as $56 million a year.

Local 3403 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents NSF workers, called out the GSA this summer for “callous disregard” of NSF employees and noted they had been told the plans for the new headquarters include a dedicated executive suite for Scott Turner, HUD’s secretary, along with his own elevator, an executive dining room and possibly a gym.

“This kind of let-them-eat-cake approach to government is absurd,” the union stated in a news announcement. “At a time when they claim to be cutting government waste, it is unbelievable that government funding is being redirected to build a palace-like office for the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.”

While Alexandria’s mayor, members of city council and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership welcomed HUD, which will be the first cabinet-level federal agency to locate in the city, they stressed that they didn’t want to lose NSF workers.

“We are thrilled to say that NSF will stay in the City of Alexandria and that it will continue its role growing the innovation hub in Carlyle, collaborating directly with USPTO,” Alyia Gaskins, Alexandria’s mayor, said in a separate Friday news release.

In 2017, the NSF moved its headquarters from Ballston to Alexandria.

“Alexandria’s economy is supported by a number of anchors we have recruited to the city — employers who themselves contribute to our economy, but importantly also catalyze spin-off activity like hotel stays, restaurant visits, and contractor businesses who locate nearby,” AEDP President and CEO Stephanie Landrum said. “For that reason, the city aggressively pursued the NSF headquarters in 2017 and was vigilant in efforts to retain them in 2025.”