After years of discussion and debate, a team has been selected to redevelop the Chevy Chase Library and community center.
On Friday, Mayor Bowser announced that Rift Valley Partners was chosen from eight proposals to transform the properties at 5601 and 5625 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Rift Valley Partners’ plan calls for a 177-unit building that will include affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing, plus a new community center and library. The proposal also features outdoor elements such as an amphitheater, an outdoor classroom, multiple sports courts, and neighborhood retail. Studios Architecture is the project’s lead designer.
Redevelopment of the civic site has been a major community issue over the past two years, with most debate focused on the scope of development and the amount of affordable housing to be provided.
Architecture studio HKS and NFL team the Washington Commanders have revealed images of a “monumental” stadium wrapped in a colonnade, set to be built in Washington, DC.
With a capacity of more than 70,000, the Washington Commanders Stadium at the RFK Campus was designed by HKS to be monumental, both in its sheer size and impact on the Washington DC skyline.
It will be wrapped in a white colonnade that recalls the city’s civic monuments including the Lincoln Memorial.
HKS has designed the Washington Commanders Stadium
According to the team, it was designed with respect to the layout of Washington DC – known as the L’Enfant Plan – with deference to the Capitol Building and the RFK Stadium that is currently on the site.
“Every design decision is guided by the significance of place – shaped by its local, regional and national history and generations of memories rooted in RFK Stadium,” said HKS global venues director Mark A Williams.
“Monumental in presence, grounded in the L’Enfant Plan and scaled to the urban fabric of the district, the stadium design will be a bold civic landmark that carries the city’s architectural legacy forward in a way that is confident, dynamic and unmistakably Washington, DC.”
It will be wrapped in a colonnade
Positioned on a roundabout interchange adjacent to the Anacostia River and the parklands of the RFK Campus, the stadium will have a cable-net, anti-clastic glass roofing system.
The shape of the roof “establishes a dynamic yet respectful profile rising to welcome visitors from the north and south while maintaining a lower presence along the east–west axis in deference to the US Capitol and monuments,” according to HKS.
The sleek column system will stand in front of large expanses of glass. Around the roofline, the columns will intersect with a massive bezel-like form that lines the rim of the bowl. The columns will be most likely be made from coloured concrete.
Renderings show a potential lantern-like effect at night, given the large amounts of glass used for the facade treatment.
At the primary entry points on the east and west side, the bowl will dip down to compress a wide glass-fronted entryway. Within the stadium, the field will be sunk meaning visitors enter at a higher plane, similar to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
This entrance will sit on a plinth, reminiscent of other civic buildings in Washington DC.
Hardscape surrounding the stadium will allow for pre-game gatherings and other public events, and the renderings show millions of square feet of development, laid out to adhere to the Perkins Eastman masterplan of the RFK campus, which connects to the river.
The stadium has classical and modern elements
The stadium design has been highly anticipated. Though the Washington Commanders stopped using RFK in the late 1990s, other sports such as football, baseball and collegiate American football were played there through the 2010s, with the George Dahl-designed stadium going out of commission in 2019.
It is currently being gradually disassembled.
RFK’s site has been contentious given the multiple jurisdictions in Washington DC. However, last year, the property moved from being administered by the National Parks Service to the local government, which leased out the land to the Commanders and approved the development plans late last year.
Due to its proximity to the capital, the design has also been the subject of national debate. The Donald Trump-appointed chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the commission that oversees buildings in the Capital Region, suggested that the stadium should be “classical” at a meeting in December.
A source close to the project said that the decision to have the collonades on the stadium occurred well before these comments, and that the Washington Commanders’ management and architects will work with the NCPC, which has an advisory but not approbative say in the matter.
The renderings suggest an integration of both classical and contemporary elements in the design.
Washington Commanders president Mark Clouse emphasised the focus on football in his statement on the design release, as well as the importance of the structure to the wider community. Community engagement processes requesting feedback for the design are ongoing.
“We’re designing a stadium that amplifies the energy of football, supports year-round events and becomes a place the community can be proud of,” said Clouse. “We look forward to hearing feedback from our community as the design continues to evolve.”
Large windows will sit between the columns of the colonnade
Washington DC’s mayor Muriel Bowser emphasised the proximity to public transport, as well as the job creation attendant to the project.
“These renderings give DC a lot to look forward to – a beautiful and unique waterfront stadium and the return of our Commanders; year-round events that are steps away from an entertainment district and public transportation,” said Bowser.
The Washington Commanders will continue to play at their current stadium in the adjacent state of Maryland until the Washington Commanders Stadium at the RFK Campus opens around 2030.
Architect Shalom Baranes has presented an updated, “more-graceful” design of the proposed White House ballroom and suggested adding a storey to the West Wing for symmetry.
The East Wing proposal will reach approximately 51 feet high (15.54 metres), while the ballroom will feature 30 to 40-foot high ceilings (nine to 12 metres), according to Baranes.
“A modest one-story addition to the West Wing colonnade”
Barane’s said that in the interest of symmetry, a second storey may be added to the West Wing colonnade to match the increased height of a proposed East Wing colonnade.
“This scheme does require a two-story colonnade, connecting the East Room in the White House to the new ballroom,” said Baranes. “We believe it’s appropriate to evaluate this condition within the context of the broader White House campus.”
“The White House is therefore considering the idea of a modest one-storey addition to the West Wing colonnade, which would serve to restore a sense of symmetry around the original central pavilion.”
The drawings show the “two-storey” colonnade running into the East Wing building from the White House. The East Wing building itself is wrapped in a classical arcade on its second storey, which covers eight large, arched windows that look into the ballroom.
A facade of smaller, rectangular windows is pictured below along the building’s first level. This lower, 89,000 square-foot level will contain auxiliary spaces to serve the ballroom and a new office for the First Lady, who traditionally holds an office in the East Wing.
It will also reportedly hold a movie theatre.
Multiple grand stairs will lead to the building, while visitors will be able to enter the building directly under two porticos, one which extends far into the White House lawn.
“Rationalising” the White House
Foyers are located on either level at the end of the colonnade, while the remaining program spreads forward into the length of the building.
The architect also said that the previous layout of the East Wing was “labyrinthian in character” and that the new scheme will serve to “rationalise” the building.
“One could generously describe the current functioning of the White House support areas, such as loading, waste handling, general deliveries and food service as being quite labyrinthian in character,” said Baranes. “And I think that’s a kind description.”
“The proposed re-modernisation seeks to rationalise these functions in a manner that will relieve the stress by increasing connectivity, operational efficiency and by enhancing overall security. The changes will allow the White House to be experienced and to age, I think, in a much more graceful way over time.”
NCPC Commissioner William Scharf also stressed the importance of the East Wing ballroom as a new space to host visiting dignitaries, as the current White House puts forth “not a good look for the United States”.
“I think it’s notable that when the President of the United States of America flies to the United Kingdom, he’s hosted at Windsor Castle,” said Scharf.
“And when next year, the king of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, comes to the United States, more likely than not he will be hosted in a tent on the South Lawn with porta-potties. That, to me, is not a good look for the United States of America.”
“Disturbing”, said commissioner
“There is a real programmatic need for a building like this.”
The proposed East Wing building will sit in the same footprint as the McCrery Architects proposals, as the location and placement is ideal for access from the East Room, according to Baranes, who said he and McCrary Architects both studied the site “fairly extensively”.
He also said that while there’s “been excavation work” and “some foundation work”, the scheme “all depends on schedule and money” as it’s further refined.
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson pushed back on the building’s proposed size, calling it “disturbing” and “overwhelming”. Others expressed concerns over safety, clearance design and ADA accessibility, while a delegate for the Department of the Interior said it supports the plan with “no reservations”.
A “more detailed and fully developed submission” is set to be proposed at a February NCPC meeting.
A plan is in the works to give a boost to the struggling H Street Corridor.
DC’s Office of Planning (OP) along with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has picked architecture firm Torti Gallas to conduct a land use and market study for the corridor that saw a huge development boom between 2010 and 2018.
The study will focus on the stretch between 3rd Street NE and 15th Street NE, examining market trends and the possibility for more development and public realm improvements. Torti Gallas will be tasked with “creating an economic development strategy that promotes a vibrant mix of retail and housing while enhancing the pedestrian experience along this significant transit corridor,” according to OP.
The H Street Corridor has encountered significant headwinds in the post-pandemic world. A 2023 article in the Washington Post outlined how increased crime in the area was resulting in a sense of unease among residents, and a number of neighborhood establishments closed as a result. The streetcar, that opened to significant fanfare in 2016, will shut down at the end of March.
DC leaders discuss transit options for the Commanders’ new stadium.
D.C. council members and transportation leaders met for hours on Wednesday to figure out the best way to get people in and out of the new Commanders stadium.
Planning starts:
We’re just about 14 months away from the start of construction, but the conversation about transportation is well underway.
Leaders repeatedly made it clear that this transportation plan isn’t just for Commanders’ fans on eight or nine Sundays — it’s for the people who live in these neighborhoods surrounding the stadium 365 days a year.
AI Conceptual Illustration
“Even folks who were opposed to the stadium early on, they know it’s coming, so they want it to be successful,” D.C. Councilmember and Chair of the Transportation Committee Charles Allen said.
He says success means a smooth ride for fans and everyday residents.
“It’s not having tens of thousands of people driving cars here. It’s thinking about transportation. Get people on Metro,” Allen said.
“I can imagine there’s going to be a lot of cars and people trying to park, so being able to alleviate that is going to be a benefit to the community,” resident Olo Olakanmi told FOX 5.
Big picture view:
The D.C. Council hearing saw representatives from the D.C. Department of Transportation, WMATA, and the Commanders, as well as ANC commissioners in neighboring communities.
Allen emphasized that this is more than just a stadium — they’re also planning 6,000 to 8,000 new homes, 20,000 people living in a brand-new neighborhood.
AI Conceptual Illustration
As of now, there are two parking garages planned for the Commanders Stadium, expected to hold about 6,000 vehicles. But when it comes to transit, there are several possibilities at play.
Dig deeper:
Metro would need major upgrades to use the Stadium Armory stop — likely including adding an entrance, elevator, and expanding the mezzanine.
A new Metro stop could end up costing hundreds of millions of dollars and take years to build.
WMATA is getting $2 million from the District for planning. General Manager Randy Clarke said that the goal is to have 40% of game day traffic come from public transit.
But that could also include bus rapid transit lines moving people from Union Station to the stadium along the H Street corridor.
“I have confidence we’re all going to work together, and everyone has the same goal here — to make this the best possible urban sports facility and mixed-use development in the country,” Clarke said.
The plan right now is to have shovels in the ground by March 2027 and construction complete by May 2030.
“We want to make this the most transit-friendly stadium but also make sure all modes of transportation are optimized for folks to get there,” DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum said.
So, a lot of these transit decisions need to be made fairly quickly.
On November 21, the US Department of Education (DOE) announced that it is narrowing its internal definition of “professional degree”. Newly excluded professions, including architecture, will have significantly less access to federal loans through stricter borrowing limits from July 2026.
To become an architect, you will still need a licence, and to get a licence, you will still need to have completed an accredited architecture degree. But there will be less financial help available to you. It is the imposition of yet another barrier to becoming an architect.
Since professionalism was introduced in the 19th century, it has been under political attack from both right and left
This news is devastating. It demonstrates the lack of respect that the MAGA administration has for our profession and ensures that a “professional” architecture education will be ever more exclusive.
At the same time, the news, for the many critical of a discipline that is underpaid and increasingly marginal, it is also welcome. It prompts an overdue discussion about what it means to be an architect and what architecture gains by being a licensed profession.
The learned professions, such as architecture, are characterized by both the extent of required education and the specificity of expertise. They bestow an elite status on those who ascend to their privileges.
Since professionalism was introduced in the 19th century, it has been under political attack from both right and left. Free-market capitalists have viewed the professions as a form of protective collusion – an actual but unrecognized monopoly. Neo-Marxists have viewed professions as a noblesse-obligé-driven division of labor that leads to false class division.
Today, indifferent to the right/left divide, advocates of innovation call for the end of the siloization of knowledge demanded by professional boundaries. More than ever, they say, our political economy needs shared information and collaborative expertise.
In the US, the learned professions have lost their exceptional status. Before the rise of neoliberalism, professions were exempt from antitrust-mandated competition because their codes of ethics, prioritizing social responsibility and quality service, were understood to be inconsistent with the cost-cutting economy.
It is ironic (or not?) that Trumpism has initiated a process that many of us architects want to encourage
In the 1970s, however, the Department of Justice went after the professions, forcing them to operate like traditional businesses and offer competitive pricing. For architecture, this meant the end of fee structures that had traditionally indicated consensus rates for a project’s size, program, and location.
From there, architecture firms’ race to the bottom began, as did the watering down of our supposedly collusional code of ethics. It no longer was viable for architects to serve needs in the built environment that were not supported by capitalism.
Beyond antitrust-enforced competition, the profession of architecture also has not done itself any favors. In reaction to a series of 20th-century lawsuits that positioned architects as responsible for building and planning errors, architecture systematically risk-managed itself away from the liabilities that come with a larger stake in programming and construction.
The professional skills for which architects still want to be recognized – design – are increasingly perceived by the public as frivolous or outperformed by those in adjacent fields. And architects’ valorization of design becomes an excuse to dismiss seemingly gauche concerns for business and money.
It is ironic (or not?) that Trumpism has initiated a process that many of us architects want to encourage: the de-professionalization of architecture. Indeed, we see numerous advantages.
Advantage one: architects would identify as workers, unionize, and support other workers in their struggle against technological displacement and capitalist exploitation. The limited successes of recent attempts to unionize architecture firms underscores architecture’s entrenched loyalty to its patronage-based roots.
Architectural employees would no longer be exempt from the labor board’s overtime pay rules
As long as we see ourselves as a professional class above working class concerns, we give the power and benefit of shaping the material world to a wealthy few, and undermine personal and planetary wellbeing in the process. By reimagining architecture as a diverse and engaged discipline, we build the networks of solidarity needed to distribute agency in the built environment.
Advantage two: architects would be legally allowed to form worker-owned cooperatives. Cooperatives further break architecture’s consolidated power model by enabling profit sharing and expanding representation via collective ownership and decision-making, but they currently are restricted due to state fears about equalizing the status of licensed and unlicensed workers. State licensing boards have a monetary interest in prioritizing licensed over unlicensed workers.
Advantage three: architectural employees would no longer be exempt from the labor board’s overtime pay rules. Because professional roles are deemed to require advanced knowledge, intellectual discretion, originality, and/or ethical judgement – work that does not conform to hourly limits – overtime pay is not required. Architecture, a field notorious for overworking its subordinate personnel for excessive durations at low wages, would have to develop more balanced and efficient approaches to work.
Advantage four: through the availability of more models for practice and exposure to the broader interests of its diversifying practitioners, architecture would reimagine its businesses and find ways to deploy its community-building expertise beyond client-motivated or commission-based projects.
Advantage five: building is a luxury for most Americans. Even among those who can pursue a construction project, hiring an architect is optional. With such limited sources of work, architecture services are undervalued – with little leverage for improvement. Through the expanded deliverables and engagement that de-professionalization would foster, architecture could grow its client base and propel its societal relevance.
Advantage six: architecture education would no longer be dictated by the limiting criteria of professional standards. Architecture schools will be freed to teach through the unique contexts of place, be it neighborhoods, resource networks or land rights.
It’s time to turn the tables and misuse conservative ideals
Advantage seven: the practices and scholarship of the built environment would be able to hybridize, specialize and multiply. An architecture that is no longer understood exclusively as “comprehensive building design” can actively redefine what it means to shape the material world, both by focusing within the discipline and exploring across disciplines.
Advantage eight: with no special status incentivising professional isolation, architects would collaborate more earnestly with planners, urbanists, ecologists, landscape architects, interior designers and others in collective action towards a just and sustainable planetary future, helping them to steward the climate and built environment.
Advantage nine: once architectural expertise is not determined by the (disinterested) state, architects, like pilots, can control their knowledge through industry-determined certification. Architects would gain authority over the terms that describe them – and with that, the ability to evolve with the times.
Advantage 10: architecture education and licensing could be shortened, making entry into the discipline cheaper, more accessible and more diverse. Yes, the DOE judgment puts a cap on the borrowing totals available to those wanting to pursue an architectural education, but a shortening of the qualifying process would more than compensate. Currently, the US demands four more years on average compared to European countries to legally practice architecture.
It’s time to turn the tables and misuse conservative ideals. It’s time to de-professionalize architecture and make it inclusive, relevant and valued.
Andrea Dietz is an architect, researcher and educator. She is assistant professor and program head of design at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at the George Washington University. She is also the co-president of the executive board for advocacy group the Architecture Lobby, the founder of Support Structures, and the co-author of The Organizer’s Guide to Architecture Education (2024).
Peggy Deamer is an architect, researcher and educator. She is a professor of architecture at Yale University, a principal at Deamer, Architects and a founding member of the Architecture Lobby. Her multiple books include Architecture and Capitalism: 1845 to the Present (2014) and Architecture and Labor (2020).
Loans available to architecture students in the USA will be reduced under the terms of president Donald Trump‘s One Big Beautiful Bill, as architecture will not be considered a professional degree.
Under the terms of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the provision of student loans in the USA will be overhauled starting 1 July, 2026, with borrowing amounts set to be determined by whether a degree is considered professional or not.
Architecture not a “professional degree”
Architects, along with several careers including other nursing and accounting, will not be considered as “professional degrees”, a move that was criticised by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
“The American Institute of Architects strongly opposes any proposal or policy that fails to recognize architects as professionals, particularly when designating which degrees qualify for student loan caps,” said the AIA in a statement.
“The title of ‘architect’ is earned through years of rigorous education, extensive professional examinations, and a demanding licensing process,” it continued.
“To classify otherwise dismisses the expertise, professional standards, and dedication that define the profession.”
Architecture student loans capped at $20,500
The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), which will replace all previous loan programs, will see borrowing capped at $20,500 for “graduate students” and $50,000 for “professional students”.
“Beginning on July 1, 2026, the maximum annual amount of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans – a graduate student, who is not a professional student, may borrow in any academic year or its equivalent shall be $20,500; and a professional student may borrow in any academic year or its equivalent shall be $50,000,” states the bill.
The AIA believes that the changes to borrowing determined by the bill will reduce the number of people who can afford to study architecture.
Cap will reduce number that can study architecture
It stated that it will lobby to change the designation of architecture as a non-professional degree.
“Lowering the loan cap will reduce the number of architects who can afford to pursue this professional degree and harm American leadership in this field,” said the AIA.
“AIA will be actively engaged with policymakers to ensure that the essential role and professional standing of architects are properly recognized in federal policy. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the integrity and value of the architectural profession.”
During his second term, Trump is taking an increased interest in architecture. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order to promote classical architecture.
