Steven Holl

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts . Washington

Steven Holl Architects . + John F. Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will break ground for its expansion project on December 4.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts expansion, to be constructed south of the existing facility, is composed of three connected pavilions that will house rehearsal space, as well as dedicated classroom space and multipurpose rooms for the Center's extensive arts education and arts management education programs.
One pavilion will float on the Potomac River and offer an outdoor stage. Public gardens will fill out the space, fusing the Kennedy Center with the landscape and river. The exteriors will utilize translucent Okalux, glass, and Carrara marble, the same Italian marble which clads the original facility. The silhouette of the current building will be preserved by connecting the new structure underground and via the main plaza.
Public access spaces will include gardens, an outdoor video wall upon which simulcast performances and other multimedia events may be projected, and an outdoor performance space on the river.

architect
– Steven Holl Architects
Steven Holl, Chris McVoy (design architects)
Chris McVoy (partner in charge)
Garrick Ambrose (project architect)
Kimberly Chew, J. Leehong Kim, Martin Kropac, Elise Riley, Yun Shi, Dominik Sigg, Yasmin Vobis (project team)
associate architects
– BNIM Architects
PROGRAM: three connected pavilions house rehearsal space, classroom space, and multipurpose rooms.
CLIENT: , John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
BUILDING AREA (SQUARE): 68,000
STATUS: competition first prize