Today, the Washington Commanders and HKS unveiled the first conceptual renderings of the team’s new state-of-the-art venue in Washington, D.C. The roofed stadium will be a dynamic, year-round destination for sports, entertainment and community engagement, integrating sustainable design practices and reimagining the fan experience through immersive spaces.
The Washington Commanders named HKS as lead architect for the team’s new state-of-the-art stadium in Washington, D.C. in November 2025.
“We are proud to share the first visuals of our future stadium, a defining milestone in the next phase of the development process,” said Mark Clouse, President of the Washington Commanders. “This moment underscores the strength of our partnership with HKS, whose thoughtful, forward-looking approach has helped us shape a concept that is worthy of its extraordinary site along DC’s Monumental Axis and truly embodies the spirit and pride of the District.”
“HKS is honored to work on one of the world’s most extraordinary sports and entertainment sites, and this project calls for an equally extraordinary response. Every design decision is guided by the significance of place – shaped by its local, regional and national history and generations of memories rooted in RFK Stadium,” said Mark A. Williams, FAIA, HKS Global Venues Director. “Monumental in presence, grounded in the original L’Enfant Plan and scaled to the urban fabric of the District, the stadium design will be a bold civic landmark that carries the city’s architectural legacy forward in a way that is confident, dynamic and unmistakably Washington, D.C.”
Located on the former RFK Stadium site and aligned with the L’Enfant Plan, the project expands the existing waterfront and park experience while enhancing the surrounding recreational network through new outdoor plazas, public spaces and green areas.
Designed to link the city’s historic core with the Anacostia River and neighboring landscapes, the stadium will feature a sculpted, transparent domed roof that establishes a dynamic yet respectful profile rising to welcome visitors from the north and south while maintaining a lower presence along the east–west axis in deference to the U.S. Capitol and adjacent monuments. Drawing inspiration from the legacy of RFK Stadium, the design emphasizes openness, continuity and shared experience, with a continuous colonnade strengthening the relationship between the public realm and the interior and reinforcing the stadium’s role as a unifying civic landmark.
HKS Named Lead Architect
“HKS is thrilled to partner with the Commanders to design a new home that celebrates the pride and unmistakable energy of the nation’s capital,” said Williams. “We’re reimagining what home-field advantage means by channeling the rhythm and the roar that made RFK so special and carrying that spirit forward in a bold new way. The site, set within the monumental fabric of Washington, D.C., is one of the most extraordinary in professional sports, and we are honored to help write the next chapter in its history.”
HKS designs each sports venue as a one-of-a-kind reflection of its city, shaped by the culture, climate and character of the people and communities it represents. The new Commanders Stadium will be designed with football at its core, delivering the loudest, most dynamic home-field advantage in the NFL. The stadium is also envisioned as a civic landmark for Washington, D.C., with monumental architecture and vibrant public spaces that come alive on game days and throughout the year.
The approximately 70,000+-seat, roofed stadium will host more than 200 events every year, including global sporting events, concerts, community festivals and major national celebrations. Sustainability, advanced technology, an enhanced fan experience and amplified sponsorship integration will be at the forefront of the stadium design.
Together, the stadium and new surrounding district will reconnect the city to the Anacostia River, catalyze local investment and create a destination for residents and visitors that thrives beyond game day. Plans also include the creation of 5,000 to 6,000 new homes, including 1,500 to 1,900 affordable units; preservation of the Fields at RFK; the addition of new youth sports facilities; and opportunities for hotel and retail development. At least 30 percent of the site will be dedicated to enhanced green spaces.
HKS will now map out the concept and schematic design with The Commanders. In collaboration with the District of Columbia, HKS participated in a series of community engagement sessions to inform the evolving design through input from local leaders and residents, with additional meetings planned through January. Vertical construction on the stadium is expected to commence in the spring of 2027; Full completion is scheduled for 2030.