Potomac Park Levee

Potomac Park Levee is located on the National Mall in Washington, DC at a culturally significant site spanning the Washington Monument grounds and the Constitution Gardens. Currently this site represents a significant gap in the Anacostia River levee system, which would cause the federal triangle to incur significant damage during 100-year flood events. OLIN was brought on to ensure that this new levee, which is up to eight feet tall in some locations, be well integrated into this significant cultural landscape. The design concept draws from the historic canal system of Washington, DC by engaging a Lock-keeper’s house located on the site and adopting the language of battered stone walls iconic of the canals to form the flood protection levees. OLIN worked closely with the National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers, the City of DC, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to ensure approval of the final design from these agencies as well as the public, and is assisting in the environmental assessment report.

Location
Washington, DC

Owner
National Park Service

Status
Completed 2014

Key Team Members
Skip Graffam, Partner
Trevor Lee, Senior Landscape Architect