Canal Park

Washington, DC, United States

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Canal Park

Washington, DC, United States

Firm

LAND COLLECTIVE

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Restaurant
Cultural › Pavilion Sculpture
Landscape + Planning › Public Park Playground Urban Green Space

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2012

SIZE

100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft

BUDGET

$10M - 50M

This vibrant new park in the Southeast District of Washington, D.C. was once part of the C&O Canal system and, in recent history, a school bus depot. Designed by David Rubin while partner at Olin, the park is an economic driver for the burgeoning community of market-rate and worker housing, and an extraordinary example of sustainable practices – stormwater management at a scale that works with the neighborhood, saving approximately 1.5 million gallons of potable water on average each year; energy efficient programming and structures – electric car re-charge stations, 28 geothermal wells supplying energy for park pavilions; soil remediation for the former brownfield; and an urban and urbane plant palette that recognizes both ecological sensitivity and that this park will be used 365-days a year. Of particular importance to the multi-stakeholder client group, Canal Park is an iconic design, creating identity for the District nationally, with features including a linear ice-skating rink, two fountains, a café, child play areas, and flexible program areas for markets, movie nights, and concerts. Three pavilions, reminiscent of floating barges, were designed in collaboration with STUDIOS Architecture, linking all three blocks along the linear rain garden.