• By Carlton Hart
• August 30, 2018

Construction Watch: the REACH at the Kennedy Center

NCPC approved final site and building plans for expansion of the John F. Kennedy Memorial and Performing Arts Center on July 9, 2015. The Commission approved the related Kennedy Center Expansion Connection project—a pedestrian ramp and bridge over Rock Creek Parkway that will connect the Kennedy Center and the expansion project with the Rock Creek Paved Recreation Trail and the Potomac waterfront—on July 7, 2016. These approvals capped a multi-year Commission review process for the first major expansion of the building since it opened in September 1971.

Construction is well underway for the 70,000 square foot expansion project—named the REACH. The Kennedy Center anticipates that it will officially open the REACH to the public on September 7, 2019, along with the pedestrian bridge over Rock Creek Parkway.

When complete, the REACH will feature new interactive and informal performance and rehearsal spaces while also providing meeting rooms, an event space, and a public garden area for this national memorial and performance center. While most of the REACH will be located beneath a large green roof, three “pavilions” will extend through the green roof into the new landscape south of the existing building (you can see one pavilion taking shape in the photo above). Initially, the Kennedy Center proposed that one of the pavilions "float" on the Potomac River. Because of potential impacts to the rowing and boating community, and other operational concerns, NCPC asked the Kennedy Center to rethink the floating pavilion idea. This request ultimately influenced the final design, as all of the pavilions are now located on land.

Nearby, another project is in the works: in June 2018 NCPC provided comments on the concept design for a National Park Service project that will rehabilitate the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway between the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Memorial. The project also proposes to realign the Rock Creek Park Trail, which will connect to the pedestrian bridge project under construction as part of the REACH. NCPC anticipates reviewing preliminary and final plans in the near future.