For nearly eight decades, GEICO anchored the corporate fabric of the D.C.–Maryland suburbs, but the stripped concrete skeleton in this sunset shot marks the final chapter for one of Montgomery County’s most recognizable mid-century landmarks.

A Mid-Century Corporate Landmark

  • Pioneering Campus: Opened in 1959 and designed by prominent architect Vincent Kling, the 26-acre campus at 5260 Western Avenue set a new standard for post-war suburban office architecture. Kling’s International Style design paired low-slung pavilions and crisp office towers with generous green space, terraced parking, and distinct mid-century fixtures.
  • The Buffett Connection: The complex expanded rapidly through the 1960s to support GEICO’s explosive growth—fueled early on by Benjamin Graham’s 1948 investment, which famously drew a young Warren Buffett to the company and paved the way for Berkshire Hathaway’s eventual full ownership.

Significance to Chevy Chase & Montgomery County

  • Economic Anchor: For generations, the complex served as one of Montgomery County’s single largest private employers, bringing thousands of daytime workers to the border of Chevy Chase and Friendship Heights and pouring vital tax revenue into local services.
  • Neighborhood Threshold: Sitting directly along Western Avenue, the sprawling campus acted as a peaceful, park-like transition zone between the bustling transit corridor of Wisconsin Avenue and the quiet residential neighborhoods of Chevy Chase and Brookdale.

The Next Chapter With GEICO relocating its headquarters to downtown Bethesda, the site is clearing the way for Friendship Commons. The massive redevelopment will replace the car-centric corporate fortress with a pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use community featuring hundreds of new housing units, retail, and preserved public green space.