Work Commences at Long Bridge Park Aquatics Center

This month work commenced at the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center. A rainy day ground breaking ceremony at the end of July kicked off the project. Pagers in attendance included Adrian Lazaro, Erica Rokenbrod, Marisa Aschettino, Michael Meaza and Robert Perry. We’re thrilled to be a part of this project team bringing Arlington its first free-standing aquatics center.

As part of the Coakley & Williams design/build team, our team in association with MJMA is responsible for the architecture. 

The Aquatics & Fitness Center as an elegant and energy efficient solution that embraces the surrounding landscape and welcomes visitors with two civic-scaled entry porches clad in wood. The 50-meter pool is the heart of the proposed facility, which will also include a second leisure/family pool, a fitness center and community rooms. The design is program driven and inclusive; it supports sustainability emphasizing everyday connections of the community and environment while also promoting the integration of public space, landscape and architecture.

The aquatics center will visually connect to the Esplanade, a prominent and popular feature of Long Bridge Park that lies on the north end of Crystal City and offers Potomac views.

The project also will include development of 10.5 acres of the park, including environmental remediation, continuation of the Esplanade, public gathering areas and casual use space, one or more rain gardens, parking and other associated infrastructure.

Located in Arlington, Long Bridge Park, north of Crystal City and adjacent to I-395, is a showplace of environmentally sound redevelopment of what was once a brownfield by the Potomac. The 30-plus-acre park features three full-size, multi-sport, lighted fields, walkways, an overlook with views of capital monuments, the Wave Arbor public art feature, a rain garden and more.