This vibrant park in the Southeast District of Washington, D.C. was once part of the C&O Canal system and, in recent history, a school bus depot. Designed by David Rubin while partner at Olin, the park is an economic driver for the burgeoning community of market-rate and worker housing, and an extraordinary example of sustainable practices – stormwater management at a scale that works with the neighborhood, saving approximately 1.5 million gallons of stormwater on average each year; energy efficient programming and structures – electric car re-charge stations, 28 geo-thermal wells supplying energy for park pavilions; soil remediation for the former brownfield; and an urban and urbane plant palette that recognizes both ecological sensitivity and that this park will be used 365-days a year. Of particular importance to the multi-stakeholder client group, Canal Park is an iconic design, creating identity for the District neighborhood, as well as nationally, with features including a linear ice-skating rink, two fountains, a café, child play areas, and flexible program areas for markets, movie nights, and concerts. Three pavilions, reminiscent of floating barges, were designed in collaboration with STUDIOS Architecture, linking all three blocks along the linear rain garden. The pavilions received two awards from the AIA D.C. chapter: Merit Award and Presidential Citation; and the park received Sustainable Sites (SITES™) Initiative certification at the 3-star level! Canal Park was one of six international parks selected as finalists in the 2015 Urban Land Institute Urban Open Space Awards Competition. The competition recognizes “outstanding examples of successful large- and small-scale public spaces that have socially enriched and revitalized the economy of their surrounding communities.”
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