University of the district of columbia
The Cleveland Dennard Plaza is located on top of the parking garage serving the University District of Columbia (UDC) Van Ness Campus. Volkert Engineering was tasked to repair structural, waterproofing, and operational issues; as well as create a memorable open space at the plaza level.
Volkert Engineering initiated a planning process that included a series of charrattes resulting in a design that meets today’s mission, yet is flexible enough to expand throughout the campus and meet the needs of the future.
For the university, this effort was not only an infrastructure improvements project, but an endeavor to change the university’s image. The new design sets out to change the user’s mind-set and creates an inviting environment where a contemporary landscape blends with the surrounding architecture.
UDC is determined to introduce green solutions throughout the campus. Fundamental to the renovation of the plaza is the concept of sustainable stormwater management. The team set out to meet three “green” goals as part of the plaza design:
- Reduce the impervious area by 1/3.
- Capture the 1” stormwater event.
- Use harvested water.
Services Provided: Civil Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Structural Engineering, Lighting Design, Stormwater Management, Utility Relocation, Permit Expediting, Construction Administration