Congratulations to AECOM, recipient of the 2019 President’s Award, which is in the Analysis, Planning and Urban Design Category, for the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge project.

The South Capitol Street Corridor Project will provide a multi-purpose connection across the Anacostia River and transform the area into a signature mobility, recreational and ecological gateway to the District’s Monumental Core.

Key components of the Project include an iconic new memorial bridge commemorating Frederick Douglass, two new oval parks, waterfront esplanades along both sides of the river, a system of interconnected trails, parkland and bio-retention. The arched form and modern character of the bridge will extend into the landscape through curvilinear paths, seating terraces, and abundant gathering places.

The West Oval will be a formal urban park providing flexible spaces and accentuating the direct symbolic views of the U.S. Capitol. By contrast, the East Oval is envisioned as a meadow-abounding landscape conducive to passive recreation, historic interpretation and reflection.

Overall, the project will provide a multi-purpose connection across the Anacostia River, a waterway that currently divides our Nation’s Capitol.

The jury commented that “this is indeed a transformative project literally and figuratively bridging the traditional divide between downtown Washington and the Anacostia neighborhood.”