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Currently under construction just steps away from the National Mall along the long-underutilized Southwest Waterfront of Washington D.C., PN Hoffman & Associates Inc.'s massive new development, The Wharf, is set to radically transform a 24-acre stretch of land along the Potomac River which runs through the heart of the American capital.
To eventually consume a mile-long stretch of prime waterfront that has long awaited redevelopment, the Perkins Eastman-designed mega-project will contain a series of condos, rental apartments, office spaces, and a hotel, along with a myriad of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. At ground level, The Wharf will take maximum advantage of its waterfront location, with plans for vast amounts of public space provided for parks, bike lanes, walking paths, playgrounds, dog parks, parking, and outdoor event spaces.
At 3.2 million square feet, The Wharf represents one of the largest development projects currently underway in Washington D.C., and the transformative mega-project will add a wonderful new neighbourhood to the nation's capital. This being said, the project has been divided into two phases, with Phase One (seen in full detail above), set for completion in late 2017, while Phase Two (seen above in white), will be developed sometime after.
In total, Phase One will offer 648 rental apartments, 240 condo units, 680 InterContinental Hotel rooms, 435,000 square feet of office space, 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 140,000 square feet of cultural and performing arts space, 1,600 underground parking spaces, 1,300 bike parking spaces, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church with 15,500 square feet of space, and a 109-unit residential building, along with open spaces, flexible spaces, piers, market docks, several landscaped parks, and a waterfront promenade.
In light of the area's 200-year history, The Wharf will incorporate a blend of old and new, retaining a sense of heritage and character within the new development via the addition of cobblestone streets, and where feasible, the incorporation of traditional brick facades into the podium levels of some of the district's modern buildings. Working together, the modern and traditional materiality of The Wharf will go a long way to tying the new development to the rich sense of history most often associated with Washington D.C.
Viewed above, Phase One of The Wharf is starting to take shape, its collection of mid-rise towers already beginning to redefine the look and feel of the Southwest Waterfront. Below, an alternate angle of the development reveals its size and scope as seen up close from street level.
Seen below from further back, the impressive length of the project can be further appreciated, as Phase One will be the larger of the two parcels slated for redevelopment.
Seen once again in the image below, this time from the side, The Wharf can be understood in its surrounding context. The fate of the small businesses and other remnants of the Southwest Waterfront's recent history remain unclear.
Once complete, Phase One of the Wharf will be a welcome addition to central D.C., the new development and mega-project representative of a bold new direction for the nation's capital. In recent years there has been much more focus on density, solid urban planning, and the promotion of forward-thinking city-building initiatives such as this one. More than this, the waterfront project will serve to reconnect Washington D.C. to one the city's largest natural resources and most underrated public assets, the natural beauty and charm of the Potomac River to once again be appreciated in full.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
