K Street Washington DC by Public Realm

DESIGN IN PROGRESS 02-03-2010

A PRIMER

SSA

RM VE

TIC

HI RE

This primer introduces the context, goals, strategy and principles that are guiding the development of design documents for a revitalized K Street. The Primer is a reference for those reviewing the design documents, for those refining this phase of document development, and for those using the design documents to implement the project. In other words, when one asks “what’s the point?”...this primer should provide some insight… if not the answer.

MCPHERSON SQUARE

FARRAGUT SQUARE

PEN

NSY

LVA

NIA

LAFAYETTE SQUARE

ETT

S MT VERNON SQUARE

K STREET

WASHINGTON CIRCLE

FRANKLIN PARK

O WY

WHITE HOUSE

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

A GREAT STREET It is great streets, along with their appendages (plazas, portals and parks) that are the symbols of great cities. By connecting, they make vital and diverse societies whole. By accommodating, they make congregation and communication the theater of community. By design, they reflect the civic aspirations of the citizens. There are no distinguished cities without a great street or two to distinguish them. And there are no great streets that exist without a great city providing a context. K Street has the ingredients of a great street. It was conceived as a critical component of the nation’s most celebrated urban plan, the 1791 L’Enfant Plan for a new capital city. It is the corridor that intersects the grand avenues and focal parks that are the syntax and outline of the Plan. It is the principle east west pathway through the city and as well as the access way for a diverse concentration of commercial, government, and visitor activity. It is a street sustained by multiple business improvement districts. If Washington DC’s avenues are the corridors of the Federal City, K Street is the main street of the District of the Columbia.

l’enfant plan for washington, d.c., 1791 K Street

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C E N T E R W A Y

A SIGNIFICANT STREET Throughout its life, K Street has been maintained and periodically improved as a street that accommodates both through traffic and local access. Physically, it is in need of renewal, operationally, it is a bit obsolete, and environmentally, it has unrealized potential. Over the last decade a series of forums, workshops, outside assessments and studies have created a concept and budget to be advanced. An environmental assessment has been produced, considered and is anticipated to be approved. Preliminary engineering is nearing completion. The renewal of a street that is significant to several districts, a city and a nationâ&#x20AC;Śis underway.

Office

Hotel

Hospitality

Mixed Use

Multi-family Housing

Public/institutional

Open Space

the back bone of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core, ...the densest area of the city

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

A SIGNIFICANT STREET

Medical/university

Financial/office

Cultural/entertainment

Proposed Projects

the focus of new development and diverse activity

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

A SIGNIFICANT STREET K Street

Streetcar Phase 1

Streetcar Phase 2

Streetcar Phase 3

Metro Subway

Metro Subway Stations

View Corridors

the hub of an evolving regional transportation system

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

THE GOAL Revitalize K Street to reinforce its accommodation, access and capacity in a manner that optimizes its aesthetic, operational and environmental quality,… as measured by today’s possibilities and tomorrow’s promise.

before...at 19th street

S T R E E T : T H E

and after...

C E N T E R W A Y

THE GOAL

before...at connecticut avenue

S T R E E T : T H E

and after..

C E N T E R W A Y

THE STRATEGY The District has established a unique triad of objectives for the revitalization of K Street. The objectives are to create a great street, a green street and a street that connects organizes and defines abutting neighborhoods. The strategy is to synthesize the distinguishing qualities of those three objectives. However, these are distinct categories of streets with qualities often viewed as mutually exclusive. If K Street achieves this synthesis, it will be a very special street.

Initiatives and Responsibilities Every significant urban street is unique in operation, appearance and function. Yet great streets share some defining characteristics, as do green streets and streets that connect, organize and define. It will be the responsibility of this project to provide and support those characteristics as follows. A Great Street… • Establish the role and supporting the ethic to be maintained as advance a concept to be designed and implemented • Respect, synthesize and reflect the ideal image of the city, its industry and its citizens • Sustain an equitable balance of all modes without compromise • Provide a quality of design and construction that establishes a civic standard • Guarantee a sustaining stewardship by abutting activities and ownership • And, as a consequence, create the place that folks would rather be • While epitomizing those qualities that distinguish a great city A Street that connects organizes and defines….. • Design, build and maintain a street that consciously forms and guides the maturation of the city, decade after decade, generation after generation • Create a functional backbone that centers, connects, stimulates and supports the communities it serves • Assume responsibility for the health and enrichment of those communities A Green Street… • Provide an evolving benchmark for an emerging infrastructure category…one that focuses the sustainable initiatives of a community or a district • Produce a construction and configuration of surfaces, utilities and furnishings that reuse existing components and materials, can be readily and efficiently maintained, and can accommodate new and unanticipated operations and modes with minimal reconstruction and environmental impact • Treat storm water while expanding the presence of plant life in urban areas • Anticipate opportunities to connect future smart infrastructure grids integrating storm water, waste and energy resources to balance loads and limit entropic loss

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

THE STRATEGY

Consequences Revitalization of a critical urban street, emblematic of the new District of Columbia. Establishment of an important standard for major downtown streets in America.

enlarged area

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

K S T R E E T : T H E celebrate and expose the major components of the Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Enfant Plan

improve consistency and quality of sidewalk environment

strengthen role of street trees creating inviting environments below

increase the presence of plant life and sustainable habitat

develop a stormwater treatment system that can expand to a district scale

provide trafficways with a continuity and width sufficient for optimal accommodation of all regional and local modes

build with a quality and permanence that facilitates maintenance and invites stewardship

develop intersections as crossroads that center and serve abutting neighborhoods

THE STRATEGY

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Form

The revitalization of K Street must reinforce an historic and relevant form while revealing rhythms that inform the user, identify abutting neighborhoods, and complement significant spaces along its path. In the process the new K Street must improve the effectiveness of its operations and conduct an accommodating construction and maintenance while establishing a new civic standard for design. The following principles and responding guidelines have informed the designs and specifications that follow.

• A main street that respects and reinforces the value and order of the L’Enfant Plan • A street of memorable form and continuity • A great street that intersects grand avenues and civic spaces with art, quality, performance and dignity • A street that links, complements and accommodates the new and comprehensive transportation initiatives of the City XXX D.C. DUP - 0000 (000) • A street of both monumental intimate scales REG

PROJECT

SHEET NO.

TOTAL SHEETS

XXX

STATE

TTS

TIC UT

WASHINGTON CIRCLE

K STREET

MT VERNON SQUARE FARRAGUT SQUARE

MCPHERSON SQUARE

FRANKLIN PARK

13 22

LAFAYETTE SQAURE

$PLTDRVS$

$PENTBLS$

THE WHITE HOUSE

the seam that synthesizes the plan

A0.02

S T R E E T : T H E N

1 SCALE:

NTS

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

STATE

PROJECT

SHEET NO.

TOTAL SHEETS

XXX

D.C.

DUP - 0000 (000)

XXX

REG

TTS

TIC UT

WASHINGTON CIRCLE

K STREET

MT VERNON SQUARE FARRAGUT SQUARE

MCPHERSON SQUARE

FRANKLIN PARK

13 22

LAFAYETTE SQAURE

$PLTDRVS$

$PENTBLS$

THE WHITE HOUSE

a symmetrical composition of a continuous main street

S T R E E T : T H E N

A0.02

SCALE:

NTS

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Rhythm

• A sequence of repetitive and syncopated places, elements, and materials that enriches place and reinforces connection • A composition of varied vertical and horizontal scales that articulates space

T ON VE

TTS

MT VERNON SQUARE

$PENTBLS$

K STREET

FARRAGUT SQUARE

FRANKLIN PARK

MCPHERSON SQUARE

REG

22 $PLTDRVS$

TIC

WASHINGTON CIRCLE

Y XXX

SHEET NO.

STATE

PROJECT

D.C.

DUP - 0000 (000)

K OR

XXX

SEGMENT 1

2 SCALE:

NTS

SEGMENT 2

D.C.

SEGMENT 3

PROGRESS PLOT 1-25-2010 T

PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIVISION

HU RECONSTRUCTION OF K STREET, NW SE TTS FROM 8TH TO 23RD STREETS 30% PLANS SEG M E N DESIGN T 3

TIC

WASHINGTON CIRCLE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION

SEGMENT 1

SEGMENT 2

NO.

DESCRIPTION

NAME

FARRAGUT SQUARE

SHEET

FRANKLIN PARK

MCPHERSON SQUARE

W NE

CHECKED BY PROJECT MGR.

FILE

MT VERNON DATE SQUARE

DATE

REVISIONS

PROJECT ENG.

DIVISION CHIEF

K STREET

and reinforced by a syncopation of secondary elements

$PENTBLS$

TOTAL SHEETS

a sequence of three reaches intersected by significant open spaces

PRIMER

$FILE$ $DATE$

S T R E E T : T H E

1 PRIMER

SCALE:

NTS

TRANSIT STATION AND INTERSECTION CROSSING

PLANTED MEDIAN

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Transit Station & Crossings

Planted Median

Transit Shelter

Sidewalk

Transitway

New & Existing Trees

REG

STATE

PROJECT

XXX

D.C.

DUP - 0000 (000)

SHEET NO.

K STREET

$PENTBLS$

segment 1...with compositions of continuity TRANSIT STATION AND INTERSECTION CROSSING N

PRIMER

SCALE:

NTS

PLANTED MEDIAN

$PLTDRVS$

TRANSIT SHELTER

NEW & EXISTING SIDEWALK TREES

S T R E E T : T H E NEW MEDIAN TREES SIDEWALK

TRANSITWAY

C E N T E R W A Y

TOTAL SHEETS

XXX

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Transit Station & Crossings

Planted Median

Transit Shelter

Sidewalk

Transitway

New & Existing Trees

REG

STATE

PROJECT

XXX

D.C.

DUP - 0000 (000)

SHEET NO.

TOTAL SHEETS

XXX

CO NN EC TIC UT K STREET

$PENTBLS$

17 segment 2...twice interrupted N

1 PRIMER

SCALE:

NTS

TRANSIT STATION AND INTERSECTION CROSSING PLANTED MEDIAN

FARRAGUT

$PLTDRVS$

TRANSIT SHELTER

NEW & EXISTING SIDEWALK TREES

S T R E E T : T H E NEW MEDIAN TREES SIDEWALK

TRANSITWAY

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Transit Station & Crossings

Planted Median

Transit Shelter

Sidewalk

Transitway

REG

STATE

XXX

D.C.

New & Existing Trees PROJECT

DUP - 0000 (000)

SHEET NO.

TOTAL SHEETS

XXX

K STREET

$PENTBLS$

segment 3...and quietlyN resolved at each T R A N S I Tend STATION AND INTERSECTION CROSSING 1

PRIMER

SCALE:

NTS

PLANTED MEDIAN

$PLTDRVS$

TRANSIT SHELTER

NEW & EXISTING SIDEWALK TREES

S T R E E T : T H E NEW MEDIAN TREES SIDEWALK

TRANSITWAY

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

vertical and horizontal scales of rhythm

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

3 parallel corridors of varied scale

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Quality

• A quality of materials that is consistent, coordinated, and representative of a civic standard worthy of a capital city • A quality of accommodation that uniformly invites workers, residents and visitors to use and enjoy the street and its environs • A quality of service that enables the street to serve more interests with increased capacity and accessibility

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C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Operation

TRAVEL/ REGIONAL BUS

TRAVEL

BUS

TRAVEL

TRAVEL/ REGIONAL BUS

TRAVEL

BUS

TRAVEL

TRAVEL/ REGIONAL BUS

• A right of way that accommodates well all modes without compromise to any • Grades and widths appropriate for future rail and designated bike lanes • A configuration designed to optimize the operation of anticipated modes and to accommodate future modes (both those that can and cannot be anticipated)

peak traffic modes of travel

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

PARKING

TRAVEL

BUS

TRAVEL

PARKING

TRAVEL

BUS

TRAVEL

PARKING

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

off-peak traffic modes of travel

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

TRAVEL

BUS

TRAVEL

BUS

TRAVEL

RENDERED PLAN HERE

modes of travel at all times at farragut & mcpherson squares

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

K S T R E E T : T H E PARKING

TRAVEL

BICYCLE

BUS/ STREETCAR

BICYCLE

TRAVEL

PARKING

TRAVEL

BICYCLE

BUS/ STREETCAR

BICYCLE

TRAVEL

PARKING

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

accommodating future options (hybrid) without requiring significant reconstruction

C E N T E R W A Y

K S T R E E T : T H E PARKING

TRAVEL

BICYCLE

BUS/ STREETCAR

BICYCLE

TRAVEL

PARKING

TRAVEL

BICYCLE

BUS/ STREETCAR

BICYCLE

TRAVEL

PARKING

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

hybrid option - modes of travel at all times

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Construction and Maintenance

• A construction process whose sequence and theater attracts rather than rejects (a commitment that no businesses will close but that new business will be attracted and that storefront reinvestments will be encouraged and facilitated) • The provision of adequate access to all abutting properties at all times throughout construction • In the transit way, a slab design appropriate for transit bus axle loads • In the out board traffic ways, a slab design (including sub base) suitable for access to and repair of utilities • The location of roadway material transitions and expansion joints to facilitate phased construction • A durable street that anticipates attention….in the form of scheduled maintenance by resident stewards (such as the BID’s)

Golden Triangle Bid

Downtown DC Bid

sustained by resident stewards

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C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES: ROADWAY DESIGN

typical transitway and medians

typical section at eastern reach

S T R E E T : T H E

typical sidewalk

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES: CONSTRUCTION PHASING Demolition Areas

existing conditions at k street & 19th street

phase 1 - demolish existing medians

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES: CONSTRUCTION PHASING New Construction Area PHASE B

PHASE A

PHASE B

phase 2 - construct north portion of street in two phases

PHASE A

phase 3 - construct south portion of street in two phases

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES: CONSTRUCTION PHASING New construction area

PHASE B

phase 4 - construct intersection in two phases

PHASE A

phase 5 - construct medians and transitway

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

FIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES: CONSTRUCTION PHASING

completed intersection

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y

K STREET: FULFILLING ITS ROLE, SECURING ITS PROMISE The current plan and concept for the revitalization of K Street enables it to do better, what it has been doing, for an evolving corridor, the communities it services, and the District it centers. In the process, its emerging design strives to anticipate an undefined future, and secure its promise. Like all other great streets in great cities, K Street is an imperfect but accurate reflection of the aspirations and potential of it citizens. In addition, K Street, consistent with its peers, endeavors to serve with a generous and sensitive spirit the needs, abilities and possibilities of all that it may attract and affect. Its success in doing so will be revealed by the quality of its invitation, accommodation and sensitive, sustainable behavior. The proposed concept and developing designs should be assessed according to their support of this quality.

view from above

general trafficway

general sidewalk

S T R E E T : T H E

C E N T E R W A Y