Wide shot of reflection pool with the Capitol building in the background against a sunset sky.

Senate Underground Garage Renovation and Landscaping Restoration

Restoring Legacy Landmarks for Modern Needs

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Client

Architect of the Capitol

Project Location

Washington, D.C.

Project Type

Preservation & Renovation Design Build

Services

Civil engineering, landscape design, and restoration

Originating in the early 1900s, Senate Park has served as both a striking landmark of the Capitol and a functional resource for personnel working on Capitol grounds. Enclosed by one of the best north-side views, the public space is laid out as an upper and lower park, with three fountains, a reflecting pool, and lawns arranged to frame long views toward the Capitol dome. Constructed as part of the original 1930s design, the park sits atop what is considered the first underground parking garage on Capitol Hill.

As we entered the 21st century, it became clear that Senate Park and the underground garage required essential infrastructure updates. By balancing preservation and modernity, our renovation approach considers the grounds intentionally, prioritizing their historical significance while improving efficiency, safety, and day-to-day operations for the Capitol’s workers, grounds staff, and visitors.

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Bringing Legacy Designs Back to Life

This project incorporates design decisions that preserve the original flair of the 1930s design. We restored the upper and lower plazas to their original neoclassical designs, including all three water features, granite-clad site walls, pedestrian walkways, and iconic staples such as lion-head spouts and fountain lighting displays.

A Bridge to Modern Solutions

The Senate Park offers a beautiful outdoor space, but the garage beneath it required infrastructure improvements to meet modern building standards. These upgrades included waterproofing the garage and internal support spaces and installing a stormwater management system to control the flow of rainwater and snowmelt. Our design also includes new electric vehicle charging stations and a geothermal well field, all integrated into the existing garage space to deliver enduring, high-performance solutions.

Dedicated to Safe & Efficient Spaces

While preservation and modernization were core tenets of our design strategy, efficiency and safety were also central to this project’s holistic approach. This refresh allowed us to create new, efficient, and pleasant work areas for the grounds team by consolidating grounds offices, adding more meeting spaces, and creating new “overnight” areas for staff who may be caught in inclement weather. We also updated all emergency exits from the garage and improved the connection between the garage and the Senate Office Building, allowing staff to enter the building directly without crossing traffic lanes.

An alternative entrance to the under ground garage features natural landscaping, stairs, an upper walkable bridge that sits over the vehicle entrance, and a small booth