WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Washington Commanders are one step closer to building a new stadium at D.C.’s RFK site after a federal commission approved preliminary plans this week.
New photo and video renderings of what the stadium could ultimately look like nestled into the neighborhood were shown at a Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) meeting Thursday.
The video gave a first 360-degree, bird’s-eye view of what the new Commanders stadium might look like in the context of the neighborhood and new development expected to come.
“It’s in Washington, D.C., and is the terminus of East Capitol Street west of the Anacostia River. That’s a specific place on the hottest axis in all of urban design in the world, and really the architecture needs to embrace that fact,” said CFA’s vice chair James McCrery.
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Members of the CFA, appointed by President Donald Trump, ultimately approved the preliminary plans, but still shared their thoughts on possible revisions, including updated views of where fans would enter on gameday at the east and west entrances.
“Your building is weakest where it needs to be its strongest on both the east and the west side,” McCrery said. “It doesn’t hold up to your neighbors, right? And I don’t mean the neighbors here. Your neighbors are the United States Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. And those are your neighbors. That’s your context, right? And you need to be as powerful.”
Commissioners called the stadium design “almost great” and encouraged designers to come back with fresh ideas about the entryways.
“There was a lot of thoughtful feedback. I don’t think I’ve heard any negative feedback about the overall design,” said stadium project executive and DC Department of Buildings Director Brian Hanlon in an interview with DC News Now on Friday. “The conditional approval on the preliminary plans allows us to move forward in the design process.”
Most neighbors in the area told DC News Now they are feeling hopeful about the project; others not so much.
“I think that could look really nice, too. I know that firm has done some other newer stadiums that I haven’t been to, but I’ve heard good things about them,” said neighbor Will Rouse.
“We don’t care about that damn stadium. We’re worried about housing,” said neighbor Crystia Mitchell.
“I think the mockup is exceptionally beautiful. I have mixed emotions. I live here, I live on this street. So, while it will bring a lot of revenue to the city, to the District, it will bring a lot of traffic as well,” said neighbor Derrick Wilder.
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