The National Capital Planning Commission has officially given the green light to the initial design concepts for the new RFK Stadium. This unanimous vote is a massive hurdle cleared for the Washington Commanders and the District, transitioning the project from “vision” to “development.”<\/p>\n
The National Capital Planning Commission gave the RFK Stadium redevelopment plan the green light to move onto its next phase, voting unanimously to approve the project\u2019s initial design concepts.<\/p>\n
The 12-member National Capital Planning Commission praised the design for the proposed replacement for the old RFK Stadium at its meeting Thursday.<\/p>\n
Commission Chair William Scharf said the design reminded him of another regional landmark.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, it\u2019s evocative of Eero Saarinen\u2019s Dulles Terminal\u201d he said, referring to the Finnish architect\u2019s innovative airport design, unveiled in 1962. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if anyone agrees with me on that point, but that\u2019s what I see when I look at it, and I think that\u2019s an interesting design choice in keeping with the history of the District.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really worried we were going to end up with some modernist garbage that would\u2019ve destroyed the skyline of Washington, D.C.,\u201d Scharf added.<\/p>\n
Commission member Tammy Stidham also heaped praise, recalling fondly about how she spent a lot of time at the former stadium because her grandfather had season tickets, back when Washington once \u201ccalled it home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a whole, I think it is starting off as a very beautiful structure that is going to be a lovely, new landmark,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The design plans for the new RFK Stadium submitted to the members of the NCPC included conceptual images of the proposed stadium, striving to keep the distant views of the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol dome visible from the east.<\/p>\n
But Commission member Evan Cash asked about the views from all angles of the proposed stadium, inquiring about the potential \u201cugly side\u201d of the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomewhere around here, that\u2019s got to exist and I haven\u2019t seen any of it yet,\u201d he said. \u201cWhere is the ugly side going to be and when can we see it to see what you\u2019ve done to mitigate it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lance Evans, a principal at HKS Architects \u2014 the Texas-based architecture firm behind the stadium\u2019s design \u2014 told Cash, \u201cThere is no \u2018back door\u2019 to the stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stadium infrastructure, access is located on the north side of the site, adjacent to the G2 garage \u2026 and then from there, we go underground, under the public realm, to the event level of the stadium,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n
The idea, Evans said, is that the movement of goods and services in and out of the stadium \u201cis actually concealed from the public realm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Security was top of mind for Commission member Paul Schaefer, who said, \u201cI just want to encourage you and the entire team to be thinking not just with your traditional security measures.\u201d<\/p>\n
He urged the design team to \u201cstart thinking about some of those exquisite issues that come with a mass gathering location such as this.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stadium is designed to hold crowds of up to 65,000 people. The $3.7 billion redevelopment plan also includes mixed retail, entertainment and housing.<\/p>\n
During the meeting\u2019s public comment segment, Kat Aristi with Oceana, an environmental group aimed at protecting the world\u2019s oceans and reducing plastic pollution, asked the commission members to consider adopting reusable cups when the new stadium opens in 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cStadiums and arenas across the country are moving to reusable cups,\u201d she said. \u201cLevi\u2019s Stadium, home to the 49ers, and Arrowhead, home to the Chiefs, both committed to implementing reusable cup programs this year, including at this weekend\u2019s Super Bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, Scharf poured cold water on the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was involved in the drafting of President Trump\u2019s executive order on bringing back plastic straws. I think paper straws are terrible,\u201d he said. \u201cSo to the extent that anything NCPC is doing or saying impacts choices on food service items in the stadium, I would encourage you to go with traditional plastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NCPC voted in favor of recommendations to get more information on multiple aspects of the design, including the materials being considered for the dome. The team and its architects will take the commission\u2019s input into account, and at future meetings, discuss a range of issues, including parking access, transportation management, noise control and stormwater management.<\/p>\n
The stadium will be the centerpiece of a massive redevelopment project and could be hosting events by 2030.<\/p>\n
WTOP\u2019s Ciara Wells contributed to this report.<\/p>\n