District Wharf

Washington, DC’s Southwest Waterfront historically functioned as an active commercial port but had become dormant and isolated from the greater DC community.

The design for District Wharf restored the connections between the city and its waterfront by integrating land and water functions, creating an enduring place that turned into a highly sought-after destination for residents and tourists throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.

To create a lively urban destination, Perkins Eastman emphasized placemaking in the design of the site’s master plan. A water plan informs the site’s land-side development to ensure that water uses are its focal point. All maritime activity connects to the land through a series of programmable piers that host events and recreational use, serving as an extension of the city’s grid into the water. A variety of outdoor spaces celebrate the District’s character, creating attractive places that provide the community and its visitors with an enjoyable and enriching experience. The design of the site’s structures focuses on the pedestrian’s perspective, creating a family of buildings along the Wharf, each with its own identity, resulting in a captivating street-level environment.

The $2 billion waterfront development is located less than one mile south of Washington, DC’s National Mall and one mile west of Nationals Park. Phase I, which encompasses 1.5 million sf of development, includes office, retail, residential, hotel, and cultural land uses, and focuses on activating water uses through the creation of a programmable pier and transient docking.