Calendar

The project posed a compelling challenge: revitalizing the aging and undersized Mission 66 Style Field House to meet the community’s evolving needs while aligning with the mayor’s ambitious vision for Net Zero Ready public buildings. From the outset, the design team faced several complexities, including the imperative to preserve heritage trees, navigate a significant utility easement, and expand the facility to three times its original size—all while maintaining harmony with the historic structure, as advised by the Commission of Fine Arts.

Working within a constrained budget, the architects and city officials sought cost-effective solutions that balanced heritage preservation, urban development, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility. The result is the DC Department of Parks and Recreation's first Mass Timber construction project—a forward-thinking blend of old and new that achieves budget goals while advancing carbon neutrality. Join us for a tour of this innovative endeavor and explore a blueprint for future public development.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of the multifaceted challenges involved in revitalizing historic structures to meet modern community needs while adhering to budget constraints and sustainability goals.
• Explore the integration of sustainable design strategies, including Mass Timber construction, to achieve Net Zero Ready standards and align with municipal mandates.
• Analyze the delicate balance required to harmonize historic preservation guidelines with contemporary architectural expansions, and the implications for future public development.
• Gain insights into the practical application of cost-effective solutions of mass timber construction in a complex urban development project and their relevance to the broader field of architecture and design.

Presented by:

Rick Harlan Schneider, FAIA, LEED AP 
Principal
ISTUDIO Architects

Peter Norhden, ASLA
Senior Project Manager
DC Department of Parks and Recreation