(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the D.C. Department of General Services (DGS) is marking three awards District facilities received this year:
- Arboretum Recreation Center, a uniquely designed timber facility, was recently honored at the Global Future Design Awards.
- The Brooks, a short-term housing facility in Ward 3, was honored with an Architectural Award at the 2023 American Institute of Architects - DC Chapter Design Awards.
- St. Elizabeths’ East Campus was awarded by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) as the best transportation construction project with a budget under $50 million.
In addition to these awards, DGS in August announced that the Ferebee Hope Recreation Center and the Department’s newly constructed headquarters were awarded “Best Project: K-12 Education” and “Best Project: Government/Public Building” for the Mid-Atlantic Region by the Engineering News-Record (ENR).
“We are proud that leading local, national, and international experts have recognized the Department of General Services and our construction and architecture partners for our excellence in creating world-class facilities and spaces for all District residents to live, work, and thrive,” said DGS Director Delano Hunter. “Every day, DGS builds, maintains, and sustains world-class facilities for all District residents, and these recognitions reaffirm our commitment to excellence.”
Arboretum Recreation Center was the Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) first mass timber construction building, contributing to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s carbon neutrality initiative. The $10 million facility includes a solar roof, enhanced stormwater management techniques, and uses biophilic design to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment.
The Brooks includes 50 family units and a computer lab, administrative spaces, play spaces, lounges, and other amenities accessible to residents. This $30 million facility also features a parking structure to support not only the short-term housing facility, but also the adjacent Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Station.
The St. Elizabeths East Campus, nestled in the Congress Heights, is being in process of being redeveloped into a mixed-use campus. The construction project awarded by CMAA resulted in a newly constructed roadway to include utilities, a new outfall in the ravine to Suitland Parkway, new public system water services to existing St. Elizabeths hospital, and the demolition of the private elevated water storage tank.
The mission of the Department of General Services is to build, maintain, and sustain the District of Columbia’s real estate portfolio, which includes more than 840 District owned properties in Washington, DC. This work allows the agency to foster economic viability, environmental stewardship, and equity across all eight (8) wards.
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