The 15-Minute Neighborhood

Master Plan Envisions a New Mixed-Use Quarter in Anacostia

Featured Project

Columbian Quarter Master Plan by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects + Planners

This new mixed-use neighborhood is rooted in principles of sustainability and post-pandemic wellness and livability

Columbian Quarter Master Plan

Washington, DC

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects + Planners
Chapter Design Award in Urban Design & Master Planning

“The plan has just the ‘right scale’ and we commend the vision to create a new community fabric.” —Jury Comment

This master plan creates a transit-oriented district in Southeast Washington, DC, which connects a revitalized community to the Anacostia River Park system through a new mixed-use neighborhood rooted in principles of sustainability and post-pandemic wellness and livability.

Columbian Quarter is located at the confluence of several regional park and trail networks. The Anacostia River Trail offers direct access from the site to 20 miles of unbroken bike trails, parks, and amenities. On site, a new promenade creates a car-free connection between the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and Anacostia Metro, and secondary streets prioritize pedestrians while maintaining service access.

Pillars of sustainability such as Mobility after the Car and Restorative Ecology root the master plan in urban sustainability and provide significant benefits for both individual and community health and wellness.

Aerial view of the planned Columbian Quarter, now known as Bridge District

Access to light, air, and nature are prioritized, as seen in the residential units’ substantial outdoor living spaces

Six “Green Pillars” guided a cohesive approach and organized sustainable strategies for the master plan: Post Carbon, Living with Water, Restorative Ecology, Mobility After the Car, Well Living, and Adaptive Resilience

Columbian Quarter will minimize barriers to nature and require fewer resources, improving health, wellness, and quality of urban living

Native, regionally-adapted plants and trees are proposed, and a daylit Stickfoot Creek is visible and easily accessed

Secondary streets and alleys are designed to be shared, allowing access for service vehicles and garage entry while prioritizing bike and pedestrian circulation and allowing for outdoor gatherings

Project Credits
Landscape Architect: Andropogon Associates
Environmental Design Consultant: Atelier Ten
Transportation Consultant: Gorove Slade
Architectural Visualization: Picture Plane
Renderings: © Picture Plane for Beyer Blinder Belle

Text adapted from architect’s project submission

Back to 2021 Awards Show