Conceptual renderings for a new stadium envisioned for the National Football League team, the Washington Commanders, have been unveiled, offering the first detailed look at a project that aims to reshape the former Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium site in Washington, D.C.
Designed by global architecture firm HKS, the roofed venue is planned as a year-round destination for sport, entertainment and community events, forming the central component of a larger mixed-use district.
The stadium, which will accommodate more than 70,000 spectators, is expected to host over 200 events annually, including sporting competitions, concerts and national celebrations. The project forms part of a broader redevelopment effort intended to reconnect the city with the Anacostia River while introducing new housing, public spaces and recreational facilities.
Washington Commanders appointed HKS as the lead architect for the project in November 2025.
Stadium design shaped by Washington’s monumental urban plan
The proposed venue will be located in the former RFK Stadium site and aligned with the historic L’Enfant Plan, the late-18th-century framework that organised Washington’s monumental avenues and civic spaces.
HKS says the architectural concept responds to the historical and spatial significance of the site. The stadium’s form is conceived as monumental in presence while scaled to the surrounding urban fabric. A sculpted, transparent domed roof is designed to create a dynamic profile rising along the north–south axis while maintaining a lower silhouette along the east–west axis in deference to nearby monuments and the United States Capitol.
The design also draws from the legacy of the former RFK Stadium, emphasising openness and continuity. A continuous colonnade surrounding the venue is intended to strengthen the connection between the interior spaces and the public realm, reinforcing the stadium’s civic role within the city.
Stadium at the centre of a 180-acre redevelopment district
Beyond the stadium itself, the project forms part of a broader 180-acre redevelopment plan for the RFK site. The mixed-use district is expected to combine sports facilities with housing, parks, recreation areas and neighbourhood amenities.
Plans include the development of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 new homes, of which 1,500 to 1,900 units are designated as affordable housing. The project also proposes preserving the Fields at RFK, introducing new youth sports facilities, and creating opportunities for hotel and retail development.
Public space is a central component of the masterplan. At least 30% of the site is planned as enhanced green areas, including outdoor plazas and parkland designed to expand the waterfront and recreational network along the Anacostia River.
The development is also expected to strengthen the physical connection between Washington’s historic core and the riverfront landscape.
Design priorities and next steps
Design priorities for the venue include sustainability strategies, advanced technology integration and the creation of immersive spectator environments. Sponsorship integration and enhanced fan experiences are also expected to be key components of the design.
The stadium will now move into concept and schematic design stages led by HKS in collaboration with the Washington Commanders and the District of Columbia. Community engagement sessions with residents and local leaders have already been conducted, with additional meetings planned.
Vertical construction of the stadium is expected to begin in spring 2027, with full completion targeted for 2030.
