The global architecture firm behind the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium has been tapped to design the new home of their fiercest rival.
The Washington Commanders selected HKS as the lead architect for the 65,000-seat stadium on the site of the former RFK Stadium, the team announced Thursday morning. The stadium is expected to start vertical construction in 2027 and open in 2030.
An early conceptual rendering of the Washington Commanders’ planned 65,000-seat, domed stadium.
The selection is the first major milestone for the project since it received final approval from the D.C. Council in September. The city agreed to fund $1.1B for infrastructure improvements to support the stadium, while the team has pledged $2.7B for the construction of the stadium and surrounding development.
The team had narrowed its search for an architect to two finalists that both previously designed NFL stadiums, HKS and HNTB, The Athletic reported in October.
HKS designed SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, which opened in 2020, as well as the Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium that opened in 2016 and the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium that opened in 2009.
“HKS has a proven track record of delivering world-class stadiums that balance design, functionality and community impact,” Commanders President Mark Clouse said in a statement, adding that the partnership’s vision is “to create a stadium that enhances the fan experience, strengthens our connection with the community, and sets a new standard for the future of sports and entertainment.”
Conceptual renderings show a glass roof to bring in light. This would better position the city to host the Super Bowl and allow it to hold concerts and other events in the winter. The team estimates it will host more than 200 events per year.
Before crafting its design, HKS said it plans to hold community meetings in coordination with District officials starting this month. HKS Global Venues Director Mark Williams said the design should celebrate “the pride and unmistakable energy of the nation’s capital.”
“We’re reimagining what home-field advantage means by channeling the rhythm and the roar that made RFK so special and carrying that spirit forward in a bold new way,” he said in a statement. “The site, set within the monumental fabric of Washington, D.C., is one of the most extraordinary in professional sports, and we are honored to help write the next chapter in its history.”
The RFK Stadium site is 2 miles due east of the Capitol, which itself is due east of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The stadium where D.C.’s NFL franchise played from 1961 to 1996, before moving to Landover, Maryland, is now being demolished.
The stadium site spans 174 acres, and plans call for a commercial development district around the sporting venue. It is envisioned for up to 6,000 housing units, with 30% of them income-restricted, plus hotels, restaurants and retail. The project would also preserve the Fields at RFK recreational facilities on the site.
The land is owned by the federal government, and then-President Joe Biden transferred control to the District through a 99-year ground lease in early January. President Donald Trump threatened to derail the project, criticizing the team’s name change. This weekend, Trump attended the Commanders’ home game against the Lions, and ESPN reported he has expressed a desire to the team’s ownership to have the stadium named after him.
