(Washington, DC) In a move that begins the transformation of the historic St. Elizabeths East Campus into a center for new commerce and amenities, Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced that the DC Department of General Services (DGS), on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design and construction of a food pavilion and multi-use facility on the campus.
The facility will be an innovative, flexible and aesthetically unique structure that will serve a wide range of interim uses and allow visitors to experience the site before redevelopment is complete. Envisioned as a destination for casual dining as well as a venue for hosting a farmers’ market and other weekend and after-hours, community, cultural and arts events, the Gateway Pavilion will set the stage for a once-in-a-generation development that will cultivate significant economic opportunities for the District.
“This RFP marks the physical beginning of what will prove to be one of the largest economic-development projects in the history of the District of Columbia – and a true boon to Ward 8 and other parts of our city east of the Anacostia River,” Mayor Gray said. “After a decade of visionary planning and community engagement, the new Gateway Pavilion will serve as a physical complement to the first phase of development and as a welcoming destination for neighbors in Ward 8, for the entire District, and for the employees and visitors of the federal agencies that will move in next year on the adjacent West Campus.”
While pre-development and development activities take shape, and until new permanent uses begin in earnest, the Gateway Pavilion will serve as an interim (2-5 years) physical focus for the East Campus, drawing heavy pedestrian traffic from the West Campus, the Congress Heights neighborhood, and the adjacent Congress Heights Metro station. In addition to accommodations for community activities and farmers’ markets, the Gateway Pavilion will host a number of small vendors/food stalls, food trucks and other mobile vendors, shared seating for patrons, and support facilities including storage and restroom spaces.
The design/builder will be selected through a two-phase procurement process that emphasizes the ability of the design team to transform the proposed site and create a sense of place, as well as the ability of the entire team to deliver the project on time and on budget. The first phase of this procurement is a qualifications-based review that will result in the short-listing of three to five teams. These teams will be invited to participate in a design competition, with first-phase submissions due by 5 pm on June 20, 2012.
During the second phase, the short-listed offerors will prepare a preliminary design concept for the pavilion and submit the associated cost to complete the project. The short-listed offerors will be given approximately one month to complete this effort and will be chosen based on the criteria described in the RFP. Aided in this selection process by an advisory panel of design and development professionals, the District intends to make a final selection by August 27th.
Architecture students are also encouraged to submit design proposals. Student designs that meet all submission criteria will be eligible to compete.
With measurable design success, the pavilion could set a precedent for future East Campus development. Visually and structurally, the Gateway Pavilion’s enclosed and outdoor spaces should be distinct and unique from other structures in the District – such as Eastern Market – and should complement the architectural and planning elegance that characterizes the iconic 183-acre campus. To optimize a limited budget, designs may include innovative materials and options for scalability.
For the past two years, the District of Columbia has been diligently developing a physical redevelopment plan and complementary economic-development strategy to guide the critical revitalization of the East Campus of St Elizabeths – the largest effort of its kind in the District. To realize the District’s goals of fiscal stability, job creation and economic competitiveness, the redevelopment will provide amenities for both the surrounding Ward 8 communities and the 4,400 Coast Guard employees who are scheduled to arrive on the West Campus in May 2013.
About St. Elizabeths East Campus
At the center of the District of Columbia’s historic neighborhoods in Ward 8, St Elizabeths East is an exceptional opportunity for the city and the private development community to create a landmark for the 21st century: a well-planned, mixed-use, mixed-income, walkable, livable community. St. Elizabeths East holds immeasurable potential as a gateway to a new future and a catalyst for economic development and growth – not only in the neighborhoods surrounding the iconic campus, but throughout the District, the region and the nation.