A Ballpark for the City: The Washington National's Ballpark and Urban District

Abstract

Baseball has been called our national pastime since the beginning of the 20th century. The Baseball Stadium has served as a hub for the social activity of people within the city, providing a place of gathering for people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. But, a major flaw yet to be addressed is the fact that ballparks only serve their community for only 22% of the year, hosting 82 home games during the season. As the design of the ballpark develops, it has the potential to become a hub for the city. This thesis will explore a new paradigm for the design of baseball stadiums, a design that not only works as a ballpark, but also serves the community throughout the year. It will also explore how a modern ballpark can echo the idiosyncratic intimacy of old-time ballparks by being gracefully integrated within the cities fabric. The site for this investigation will be in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. adjacent to the South Capitol Street Bridge and situated along the Anacostia Waterfront. This area is currently an abandoned industrial district that could serve as a lively and energetic urban district as well as a gateway to the city.