Nationals Park – Washington, D.C.

Nationals Park is a $611 million Major League Baseball stadium with over 40,000 seats, setting a new standard as the first LEED-certified green professional sports stadium in the United States. Designed to integrate seamlessly with Washington, D.C.’s architectural character, the stadium features a steel-framed structure clad in approximately 58,000 cubic yards of beige precast concrete, echoing the limestone found in the city’s historic landmarks, alongside glass and metal panel elements.

The ballpark was delivered through a fast-track design-build approach, with construction beginning during the schematic design phase. This method enabled real-time collaboration between the design team and subcontractors, leveraging the latest technology to optimize efficiency. The use of 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) software allowed for precise design, structural planning, and accurate material estimates, helping the project team mitigate the impact of escalating steel prices and maintain cost and schedule control.

Just two days before Opening Day, Nationals Park achieved LEED Silver certification, becoming the first professional sports venue to earn this distinction. Sustainability was a key focus, with numerous eco-friendly features, including an advanced groundwater and stormwater filtration system designed to protect the nearby Anacostia River. The ballpark’s filtration system effectively captures and treats contaminants from rainwater and field runoff, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and reinforcing the stadium’s commitment to sustainability.