Professional Practice
Farragut and McPherson Squares Design Charrette
Date: 7/1/2024 - 7/12/2024
Location(s): District of Columbia
Description:
The District of Columbia Office of Planning (OP), in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), District Department of Transportation (DDOT), and the Golden Triangle and Downtown DC Business Improvement Districts, is excited to announce the opportunity for landscape architecture firms to express their interest in participating in a design charrette for a transformative project in the heart of Downtown Washington, DC. The partners are embarking on a visionary journey to revitalize the "Historic Green Triangle" located north of the White House in Downtown DC, as outlined in the Downtown Action Plan. The charrette will be held in Washington, DC, in August and September 2024 and 3-4 firms will be selected to participate.
The focus of this project encompasses the 800 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, including the street right-of-way and sidewalks surrounding McPherson and Farragut Squares. It is a part of the broader Downtown Action Plan and aligns with key initiatives outlined in the Downtown DC Public Realm Plan, particularly the I Street Greenway, Connecticut Avenue Capital Promenade, and Vermont Avenue Connector projects.
While major changes to Lafayette Park or Black Lives Matter Plaza are not expected through this design charrette, it is essential to consider these spaces as integral parts of the surrounding context and pedestrian experience/connections in public space.
Landscape architecture firms with a passion for creating vibrant, accessible, and sustainable public spaces to contribute their expertise to this endeavor are encouraged to apply. The goal is to develop a conceptual design for Farragut and McPherson Squares that reflects the unique character of the area while enhancing its functionality and appeal to residents, workers, and visitors alike. This effort will lay the foundation for the design development phase up until construction, emphasizing the importance of designing spaces for public expression and incorporating public art to enrich the cultural fabric of the community.
This project represents an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Downtown DC's public realm and contribute to the city's rich heritage and urban fabric. Interested landscape architecture firms are invited to submit their expressions of interest, outlining their qualifications, approach, and relevant experience in similar public realm design projects. The partners reserve the right to utilize the concepts in whole or in part for marketing and other efforts to promote and engage the public on the project.
Schedule and Deliverables:
July 30 – Virtual briefing session
August 13, 14, or 16 – In-person site visit
August 19 – 26 – Weekly virtual check-in meetings
September 3, 4, or 5 – In-person design workshop to present conceptual plans
September 9 – Virtual workshop debrief
September 20 – Final deliverables due (individual presentations showing conceptual ideas including illustrative plan, graphics and narrative)
Qualification submittal guidelines:
Please submit your qualifications in PDF format to charrette@asla.org no later than 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, July 12, 2024. PDF submissions may not exceed 20mb or 20 pages.
Qualifications: A brief statement of your firm qualifications (limited to one page). Qualified firms must have recent (past 3 years) experience leading the design of significant public realm spaces that include elements of cultural and historical significance.
Design team resumes: Include resumes for one to two team members who will participate in the in-person work sessions.
Approach: Articulate your design philosophy and approach to creating vibrant and inclusive public spaces in urban settings. Articulate your process for collaborating with other design teams on developing consensus for conceptual design (limited to two pages).
Similar Projects:
Provide a schedule of current and past projects of similar scope and magnitude for which your firm has provided services. Describe each project and those services you preformed. (limited to one page)
Provide a summary of your firm’s experience in Washington D.C.
Provide no more than 3 project examples that illustrate your firm’s understanding and ability to deliver inclusive conceptual design services for significant public spaces. (limited to 6 pages)
Contact References: Provide no more than three contact references.
Please submit your proposal by 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, July 12, 2024, to charrette@asla.org. For inquiries or additional information please contact charrette@asla.org.