The Washington Commanders NFL franchise has shared updated renderings of a forthcoming stadium designed by HKS.
The new renderings give a sense of what the fan experience will look like on the ground.
Visuals reveal the stadium’s perimeter shrouded in vegetation and a new spherocylindrical, capsule-shaped grass lawn for tailgating, concerts, etc. The lawn feeds into a plaza that fronts the main entry.
Updated renderings also show how the stadium will appear from three major access points: East Capitol Street Northeast, the Whitney Young Memorial Bridge, and East Capitol Street Southeast.
The stadium’s concave profile will maintain sight lines from East Capitol Street Southeast of the Capital Building and Washington Monument, according to the renderings.
Architecturally speaking, the new renderings also show subtle changes in the columns.
The last batch of renderings by HKS was issued in January; the tranche showed the stadium’s form and how it will axially respond to the U.S. Capitol Building and the Washington Monument, in alignment with the L’Enfant Plan.
Conceptual drawings by HKS were subsequently submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) for consideration on February 5. NCPC chairman Will Scharf called the design by HKS “a really incredible stadium,” while others said there was room for improvement.
Paul Ingrassia, General Services Administration acting general counsel, noted he appreciated “the references to classical architecture,” by HKS but said the columns could be redesigned to “convey a sense of heft and gravity for when people enter.”
As per Ingrassia’s direction, this latest cache shows the profile in tact, albeit with perhaps more Greco-Roman influence in the columns, which seem to be different in plan.
A tall, vertical void is located at the outset of the columns, per the new renderings, creating a sense of depth and shadows.
The roofed stadium will ultimately be able to host 70,000 people, and serve as an anchor of a mixed-use development. HKS noted 30 percent of the 180-acre site will be open space.
Vertical construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027 and full completion is scheduled for 2030.
The Washington Commanders noted the design process is ongoing; the franchise is still seeking input from stakeholders, city officials, and community members.
The jury is still out whether or not the stadium will be named after President Trump.
