WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Mayor
Muriel Bowser was joined by Events
DC, the District's convention and sports authority, to break ground
on the Walter E. Washington Convention Center streetscape
project. The streetscape project will feature lighting, art,
new retail kiosks, digital signage, planters and furnishings to
reactivate the exterior of the Convention Center and Shaw
neighborhood.
"It's now been more than fifteen years since our community
worked together to build this world-class convention center. Since
then, we have worked hard to attract businesses and amenities that
can be enjoyed by both residents in the neighborhood as well as the
millions of visitors who come to our city from around the world
every year," said Mayor Bowser. "With the support of Events DC,
this project is going to bring in more of what our residents,
visitors, and businesses like – jobs, opportunity, and places to
enjoy DC."
The groundbreaking marks the beginning of the Convention Center
enhancement project that will transform the exterior of the 2.3
million square-foot building. This project is just another
step forward that reinforces the Shaw neighborhood as a convention
and entertainment district, full of new retail and restaurants and
an Apple flagship store, located at Mt. Vernon Square.
"As the convention and sports authority for DC, it is critical
for us to make strategic investments in our venues to differentiate
our facilities and city from competitors across the globe – and the
Convention Center streetscape project is a prime example of
this. We are creating an experience for our customers
and residents that is more than a building—we are creating a
vibrant space with retail, world-class art, lighting and public
space that is connected with and a part of the Shaw
community," said Max Brown, Chairman
of the Board of Directors at Events DC. "Over the past several
years, we have worked closely with the community and our clients on
the planning of the streetscape project, to ensure it would help
serve our neighbors and customers' needs. And importantly,
position our building and our city for years to come."
The final design for the comprehensive streetscape project will
include public art featuring signature pieces and local artists,
improvements to the building's façade, street furniture and an
improved retail storefront presence, all of which will incorporate
a design emphasis of enhanced lighting and a more
pedestrian-friendly experience.
"More than just a meeting facility, over time, we have created a
convention and entertainment district outside of the walls of the
Walter E. Washington Convention Center with local restaurants,
retail and diverse businesses. When visitors go to other
cities, they want to experience authenticity and through this
project and much more, we want to provide that DC experience to our
visitors," said Gregory A. O'Dell,
president and chief executive officer of Events DC. "As the
convention and sports authority for the District, it remains our
top priority to make strategic investments for the betterment of
our city and residents – as well as to be forward-thinking and
through this project we strive to continue to do just that."
Alongside Events DC, OMA is the design architect on the project
with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB) as the
architect of record, responsible for the construction drawings.
Rand* construction is the construction management team, accountable
for the planning, installation and construction of the
project.
Phase 1 of the project will be completed by the end of 2020 and
will include the following:
- 3 New Retail Kiosks on the 9th street side of South
building
- 4 new retail kiosks on 9th street side of Middle
building
- Rooftop Terrace – approx. 3,477 sq. ft. along the North
building
- Increased paving, planting and seating around the perimeter of
the Convention Center
- Heightened sitewide lighting – entrance pylons, rooftop,
perimeter-scape and M street tunnel
A phase two of the project will include better wayfare signage,
public art installations and working with WMATA on a new Metro
entrance. These streetscape improvements are expected to be
completed by the end of 2021. The estimated total cost for the
streetscape project is $41M.
Last spring (2019), Events DC completed an interior redesign of the
Convention Center grand lobby and all public spaces throughout the
Center to be inclusive of more flexible seating, interactive kiosks
and communal spaces.
Renderings of the streetscape project can be downloaded here.
About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and
sports authority for the District of
Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible
venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a
world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences,
Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the
attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and
cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and
tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and
generates more than $400 million
annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie
Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events
DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium,
Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the
DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Stay current on the
190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project
at www.RFKCampus.com. Events DC also built and serves as
landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major
professional sports stadium in the United
States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration
Center and the Entertainment and Sports Arena
(www.ESAontheRise.com), all conveniently located in the Congress
Heights neighborhood of Washington,
DC. For more information, please
visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media –
Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Events DC), and Twitter
(@TheEventsDC).
About OMA
OMA is a leading international partnership
practicing architecture, urbanism, and cultural analysis. OMA's
buildings and masterplans around the world insist on intelligent
forms while inventing new possibilities for content and everyday
use. Since 2001, OMA New York has been responsible for OMA's
operations in the Americas including Milstein Hall at Cornell
University (2011), Seattle Central Library, the Prada
Epicenter in Los Angeles (both
completed 2004), the IIT Campus Center in Chicago (2003), and the Prada Epicenter in
New York (2001). Past engagements
with urban conditions around the world include a new civic center
in Bogota, Colombia; a
post-Hurricane Sandy, urban water strategy for New Jersey; and a food hub in Louisville, Kentucky. The office's most recent
engagement with our nation's capital include the 11th Street Bridge
Park, scheduled to start construction in 2019. OMA New York will
celebrate two cultural completions this year including the Faena
Forum in Miami and the Pierre
Lassonde Pavilion in Quebec City.
About Rand* Construction
Rand* Construction is an
award-winning, woman-owned national commercial general contractor
that specializes in tenant interiors, building renovations, base
building, retail, restaurant and ground-up construction.
About Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners
(BBB)
Founded in 1968, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects &
Planners is an award-winning architecture, planning, and interiors
practice comprised of 190 professionals in Washington, DC, New
York City, and Boston with
a longstanding commitment to design excellence, urban life and
sustainable practices. The firm's multi-faceted portfolio
encompasses rehabilitation and new construction projects that span
a wide spectrum of building typologies and sectors, including
residential, cultural, civic, educational, and commercial. Notable
recent DC projects include the Washington Monument New Visitor
Facility, The Carnegie Library, Arlington National Cemetery
Expansion, US Diplomacy Center, and The Hepburn.
www.beyerblinderbelle.com
Contact: Ashley Forrester,
202-439-7109, aforrester@eventsdc.com
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SOURCE Events DC