Washington D.C’s Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Stadium Campus | OMA

Architecture, Sports Buildings, Stadium

Stadium Campus

Washington, D.C.’s rundown Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Armory Campus, the home to soccer team D.C. United, is finally edging closer to redevelopment. The New York office of Rem Koolhaas’ Rotterdam – based firm OMA – has been commissioned to master plan the site. The stadium, located in the Southeast quadrant of the District, boasts a significant soccer pedigree, having hosted five World Cup matches in 1994. Constructed in 1961, the RFK Memorial Stadium was famed for being one of the first multi-sport sports venues, pitched as both baseball and soccer arena. After almost 60 years of service, the stadium is now long overdue for a facelift. “They have lots of good urban waterfront experience, and lots of experience connecting green spaces to entertainment“, Brown added.

Rendered by © Robota

The project is being overseen by Events D.C. and the Sports Authority for the District of Columbia. OMA also works with management firm Brailsford & Dunlavey to develop long and short term concepts for the future usage of the site. The project will be managed by OMA’s New York Office, with the intention of creating a ‘holistic conceptual plan’ that resonates with the surrounding community forming access and public meeting points, acting as a social hub for residents.

“One of the things we realized as we were analyzing the future use of RFK, after talking to a lot of potential users, is that there was no conceptual masterplan that can be shared with the community once the ideas are put to paper“, said Max Brown, chairman Events D.C. – the organization spearheading the project. “We needed someone to help tell a story about what this place could be and options for use and how they’re located”.

Rendered by © Robota

Jason Long, partner at OMA, said in a statement that the plan will seek to play an “important role in reconnecting the city to the Anacostia waterfront”. No renderings have been released to date. OMA will seek to integrate the stadium into the 190-acre site, a vast expanse currently covered by surface-level parking lots, underutilized green spaces and wide roadways. The windswept campus today appears eerily abandoned.

Courtesy of OMA

“The goal of the project is to develop conceptual masterplans for the entire Campus that complement the site, benefit the community and create access points and public areas of convergence for residents and visitors“, Laura Baird, Associate at OMA, said in a statement.

OMA will complete its conceptual designs over the next few months, and Events D.C. anticipates going back to stakeholders with the options in the early part of 2016.