PROJECT  Reservoir District Master Plan: Recreation Center and Park

ARCHITECT  Quinn Evans

LOCATION  Washington, District of Columbia, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  6/1/2024

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Master Planner and Design Architect: Perkins Eastman DC
OWNER/CLIENT  Department of Governmental Services (DGS) - Washington, DC
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Gilbane Building Company
PHOTOGRAPHER  Andrew Rugge at Perkins Eastman and Alan Karchmer
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Rhodeside Harwell
CIVIL ENGINEER Bowman Consulting
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  TYLin
MECHANICAL ENGINEER  Global Engineering Solutions
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER  Global Engineering Solutions
CONSULTANT  Project Management - Kramer Consulting Services | ccahill@kramerdc.com
CONSULTANT  Engineer – Structural | Thornton Tomasetti | pdrake@thorntontomasetti.com
CONSULTANT  Engineer - Civil | Wiles Mensch | mszynal@WM-DC.com
CONSULTANT  Engineer – MEP | SETTY | Raj Setty, President, rsetty@setty.com,
CONSULTANT  Landscape Architect - Nelson Byrd Woltz | jaten@nbwla.com
CONSULTANT  Historic Preservation - EHT Traceries | emily.eig@traceries.com
CONSULTANT  Pool Designer - Aquatic Design Group | hlavery@mellenniumpool.com
CONSULTANT  LEED Consultant | Sustainable Design Consulting
CONSULTANT  Traffic Engineer | Gorove Slade
CONSULTANT  

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
Reclaiming a decommissioned industrial site to mend the urban fabric and connect the community.
The Reservoir District Master Plan re-imagines a historic water treatment site into a dynamic, community-centered space that integrates old and new. The design preserves and adapts industrial structures, such as filtration cells and regulator houses, integrating them into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood and reinforcing a sense of history and place.

Originally built in 1905, the water treatment facility was decommissioned in the 1980s. Decades in the making, this redevelopment enhances community wellness, provides vital public recreational amenities and strengthens neighborhood identity. The Reservoir Park Recreation Center and Park is the first completed project in the phased transformation of the Reservoir District.

The site is now home to a state-of-the-art recreation center, offering fitness facilities, an indoor pool, and flexible community spaces. Surrounding the center, Reservoir Park provides six acres of public space featuring shaded pathways, a playground, splash pads, an amphitheater, and a restored historic fountain.

Discovery is embedded throughout, with interpretive signage and design features that reveal the site’s history while encouraging public exploration. By balancing historic preservation with modern functionality, the project offers a meaningful connection between people, place, and past.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Caption: Evening view of recreation center and plaza with preserved historic structures. Photographer Credit: Photograph by Andrew Rugge. Copyright Perkins Eastman.
2. Caption: Evening view of recreation center and plaza with preserved historic structures. Photographer Credit: Photograph by Andrew Rugge. Copyright Perkins Eastman.
3. Caption: Indoor pool filled with daylight and views to the plaza. Photographer Credit: Alan Karchmer
4. Caption: Plaza overview of new recreation center with historic sand bins. Photographer Credit: Photograph by Alan Karchmer.
5. Caption: Preserved underground space invite people to gather and learn about the site’s history. Photographer Credit: Photograph by Andrew Rugge. Copyright Perkins Eastman.
6. Caption: Evening view of plaza connecting historic structures with new public spaces. Photographer Credit: Photograph by Alan Karchmer.
7. Caption: Preserved silos create inviting outdoor seating areas. Photographer Credit: Photograph by Alan Karchmer.
8. Caption: Walkways link new community spaces with preserved features. Photographer Credit: Photograph by Andrew Rugge. Copyright Perkins Eastman.