Anacostia Recreation Center at Ketcham
1919 15th St SE
Washington, DC 20003
The new Anacostia Recreation Center at Ketcham fulfills a long-standing community need for a welcoming and safe multipurpose recreational facility. Situated between mixed-use and residential zones within a historic district that includes the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, DLR Group's design represents a crucial link between the neighborhood’s past and its vision for the future. Delivering Anacostia’s first new public recreation facility in 20 years required extensive planning and outreach. The design is the result of our close collaboration with DGS, with development further guided by input from the Historic Anacostia Preservation Society, the adjacent Ketcham Elementary School, and local residents. The facility accommodates a wide range of intergenerational activities and programs as well as shared use with the school. A landscaped pedestrian promenade connects 14th Street and 15th Street SE where U Street terminates into the site, expanding community access by reactivating the previously severed U Street corridor. The main entrance serves as an inviting front porch, while the façade’s light brick responds to the adjacent school and surrounding row homes. Through civic adaptability, the neighborhood-redefining recreation center builds community around equitable access to fitness, connection to nature, and spaces for play and social interaction.
The new 12,100-SF, single-level recreation facility consists of an indoor gym basketball court, fitness center, demonstration kitchen, classroom, multipurpose room, reception and lobby area, and staff office. Outdoor amenities include two age-based playgrounds, an athletic field, terraced seating, and a walking path. The promenade between 14th Street and 15th Street SE adds a new mode of access previously closed off within the neighborhood.The perimeter fencing incorporates decorative perforated metal panels showcasing work by local artists.Lockable gates managed by park rangers safeguard this community asset. LEED Silver certified, the building’s sustainable features include a green roof, native plantings, and rooftop solar panels. DLR Group provided architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and programming.