The National Mall Design Competition

The Trust for the National Mall, which is the official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to restoring and improving the National Mall, sponsored this design competition to address three key areas on the Mall: Union Square at the foot of the US Capitol, Washington Monument grounds at Sylvan Theater, and Constitution Gardens.

The National Mall occupies a special place in American history and American culture serving as the heart of our nation. The passage of time, however, has taken its toll. The National Mall, with 25 million annual visitors, has suffered from years of overuse and inadequate funding resulting in a state of disrepair. Looking at the three projects together was intended to create a cohesive approach to meeting the needs of the National Mall’s growing levels of use while preparing it for the continued enjoyment of future generations.

The National Mall: Union Square

SELECTED DESIGN TEAM: GGN & DAVIS BRODY BOND

Design teams were asked to redesign the highly symbolic foreground to the U.S. Capitol as an attractive flexible stage for democracy that could accommodate more visitors while diverting use from the Mall. The goal was to create a popular, active, dignified day and evening destination that is easily transformed into a larger venue for First Amendment demonstrations, national celebrations, and events..

The National Mall: The Washington Monument Grounds at Sylvan Theater

SELECTED DESIGN TEAM: WEISS/MANFREDI & OLIN

The program for this site was to design a mixed-use infrastructure to make the Washington Monument grounds more sustainable while maintaining and enhancing the stunning views of the monument. Located generally south of the monument, the infrastructure was to include structures, buildings and landscapes that would replace the current Sylvan Theater, restrooms, and other facilities while providing for adaptive reuse of some historic buildings.

The National Mall: Constitution Gardens

SELECTED DESIGN TEAM: PWP LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & ROGERS MARVEL ARCHITECTURE

Design teams were asked to build upon previous plans to improve Constitution Gardens as a unique place within the National Mall. It is the site for the Memorial to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and was intended to provide a pastoral lake setting for passive recreation and a venue for special events. However, the original plan for this site was not fully realized, providing designers the opportunity to shape Constitution Gardens for the future.

Vancouver Community Connector

SELECTED DESIGN TEAM: ALLIED WORKS & GGN

Sponsored by the National Park Service and City of Vancouver with support from the Washington Department of Transportation, the competition directive was to design a Community Connector over Interstate 5 to link downtown Vancouver on the west side of the freeway to the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site on the east side. The project was created to provide community benefits and amenities while also providing the federally required mitigation of the impacts the I-5 bridge replacement project would cause to the National Historic Site. Design teams were asked to create an icon and symbol celebrating the city and citizens of Vancouver while preserving the rich history and cultural importance of the site.

Framing a Modern Masterpiece | The City + The Arch + The River

SELECTED DESIGN TEAM: MICHAEL VAN VALKENBURGH ASSOCIATES

The competition was designed to honor the spirit of exploration that inspired Thomas Jefferson and Eero Saarinen. Sponsored by a partnership of the National Park Service, the City of St. Louis and other riverfront interests, the competition presented a lifetime opportunity for architects, landscape architects, and designers—and for National Park supporters the world over. The challenge was to take one of our country’s first urban park sites, weave it into the city fabric, explore the role of the Arch and its grounds as an active part of the downtown and a contributor to economic growth, celebrate the Mississippi riverfront, and mitigate the divisive “moat” of transportation around the site. This challenge was daunting and complex—but the opportunity resulted in a legacy project for this generation of citizens and leaders. The project is substantially complete and exceeds the high expectations of the design competition program.