Crystal City East Entrance Celebrates Topping-Out Ceremony

Project partners gather to mark a milestone at this vibrant multimodal hub.

April 21, 2026

Project partners gathered on Friday, April 17, to celebrate a major construction milestone for the Crystal City East Entrance project with a topping-out ceremony recognizing significant progress at the site. The event marked the placement of the station’s final structural element as work continues to advance on this major expansion of the Crystal City Metrorail Station in Arlington, VA.

Construction workers place the signed beam in place at the CCEE. — Crews secure the final beam, marking a major construction milestone for the Crystal City East Entrance.

Led by Clark Construction Group with VHB as lead designer, the project is being delivered in partnership with Arlington County and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The new east entrance will strengthen the station’s role as a critical gateway to National Landing, supporting continued growth and improving access to the regional transit network.

A group of ten VHBers stand together to smile for a group photo. — VHBers from left to right attend the ceremony: Meghan Powell, Greg Goodrich, Oscar Park, Travis Cook, Mark Colgan, Joe Wanat, Jude Salac, Craig Mackel, Kevin Martens, and Tyler DuBois.

Building on design work led by VHB, the project also recently completed the first of two Rail Service Adjustment (RSA) shutdown phases in which crews constructed the new mezzanine structure with steel framing and major concrete placement. In recent weeks, crews have also installed the new elevator shaft framing and completed selective demolition of the existing station end wall to accommodate the new connection. They have also reconfigured back-of-house spaces to create new pathways between the existing station and the new mezzanine.

Five VHBers stand with the signed beam. — VHBers Mark Colgan, Kevin Martens, Jude Salac, Greg Goodrich, and Travis Cook join project partners at the ceremony to celebrate progress toward a safer, more convenient station connection.

“The topping out ceremony represents an important milestone for the entire project team and our partners,” said Travis Cook, PE, VHB Deputy Design Manager. “After years of coordination and teamwork, it’s exciting to see the Crystal City East Entrance take shape as part of the broader National Landing transit network.”

The canopy framing for the station entrance on the active construction site. — Canopy framing rises at the Crystal City East Entrance, as crews assemble the steel structure that will create a welcoming new gateway to the station.

When complete, the Crystal City East Entrance will support a vibrant multimodal hub that shortens commute times, relieves congestion, and improves accessibility across the National Capital Region. Design elements include Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility improvements, enhanced emergency access, and a new underground passageway that improves connectivity to surrounding transportation options.