John F Kennedy Center Expansion
The REACH Expansion at the Kennedy Center
A complement to the monumental Kennedy Center structure as a new model for civic engagement in the arts
Information
- Location Washington, District of Columbia
- Size 65,489 SF
- Project Type Performing Arts
- Certification LEED Gold
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has served as an iconic, living memorial to President Kennedy since its completion in 1971. Building on this legacy, the REACH represents a 21st century complement to the monumental Kennedy Center structure and offers a new model for civic engagement in the arts. To support the Kennedy Center’s mission of “…increasing opportunities for all people to participate in and understand the arts,” the REACH expansion adds much-needed accommodation for rehearsal, education, modern programming, and technology, and helps continue the Kennedy Center’s growing body of arts education and social impact programs. BNIM served as Associate Architect for the expansion, in collaboration with Designer Steven Holl Architects.
Impact + Innovation
The design for the LEED Gold REACH expansion cleverly integrates building and landscape, tucking much of the 72,000 square feet of studio, rehearsal, performance, and learning spaces below ground. This enables the dramatic rise of three sculptural concrete pavilions from a grassy, 69,000-square-foot green roof, one of the largest green roofs in Washington D.C. Above ground, the three pavilions provide flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for arts programming, serve as a backdrop for digital projection, frame views to surrounding monuments, and draw daylight deep into the spaces beneath. Below ground, the pavilions connect to one another and to the original Kennedy Center building in a seamless flow of soaring atria and flexible spaces for programming, some of which look directly out the Potomac River.
Sustainability
People
Team
- Greg Sheldon
- Sarah Murphy
- Hans Nettelblad
- Elvis Achelpohl
- Casey Cassias
- Andrew Mixdorf
- Sarah Hirsch
- Rita Richey
- Jamie Kluesner
- Jonathan Sloan
- Nicholas Fratta
- Brad Clark
- Vanessa Douthat
- Kristin Long
- Arpit Balhara
- Kara Bouillette
- Jeremy Nelson
- Emily Kruse
- Kyle Patneau
- Christopher Koch
- Emily Thompson
- Nadav Bittan
- Lana Zoet
- Daniel Siroky
- Paul Kempton
- Allison Pericich
- Adam Cohen
- Janelle Kimsey
Media
Awards
Barrier-Free America Award, Paralyzed Veterans of America
2022
ASLA Illinois
Merit Award
2020
Architizer
Architizer A+ Award Finalist | Architecture + Concrete Category
2020
Architizer
Architizer A+ Award Finalist | Religious Buildings & Memorials Category
2020
Architizer
Architizer A+ Award Finalist | Architecture + Light Category
2020
American Concrete Institute
Overall Excellence Award in Concrete
2020
AIA New York
Honor Award in Architecture
2020
Lambda Alpha International
Outstanding Project Award
2019
Fast Company
Innovation by Design Award – Finalist, Crinkle Concrete
2019
