National Mall Underground

Flood Protection, Visitor Access, and Sustainability Under the National Mall

Albert H. Small National Mall Coalition Arthur Cotton Moore FAIA

Silver Jackets 090518

18th & Connecticut Ave. November 2013 – December 2014 DC Council / USACE Review May 2, 2017 USACE Technical Review September 2018

The Concept Federal Triangle area, 12th Street tunnel, and Constitution Avenue in 2006

Flood of June 25th-26th, 2006 Visualization of 2006 flood by Arthur Cotton Moore FAIA

Pooling of stormwater during 2006 flood Federal Triangle Stormwater Drainage Study July 2011

Members of the Stormwater Working Group:

• General Services Administration (GSA) • District of Columbia Office of Planning (DCOP) • DC Department of the Environment (DDOE) • DC Homeland Security and Emergency

Management Agency (DC HS&EMA) • DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) • Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) • National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) • National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) • National Gallery of Art (NGA) • National Park Service (NPS) • Smithsonian Institution (SI) • U.S. Department of Justice (US DOJ) • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Federal Triangle Stormwater Drainage Study July 2011

Members of the Stormwater Working Group:

• General Services Administration (GSA) • District of Columbia Office of Planning (DCOP) • DC Department of the Environment (DDOE) • DC Homeland Security and Emergency

Coordination Congress, DC & Federal agencies, public Congress White House

Federal Agencies Federal Agencies (cont.) Architect of the Capitol U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Park Police Commission of Fine Arts U.S. Secret Service Council on Environmental Quality EPA Federal Emergency Management Agency District of Columbia (FEMA) DC Councilmembers (staff) Wells (sits on IRS NCPC) and McDuffie (sits on COG) National Archives DC Department of Transportation National Capital Planning Commission DC Water (WASA) National Gallery of Art DC Department of Environment National Park Service Office of the Mayor Smithsonian Institution DC Office of Planning USDA WMATA U.S. Dept. of Commerce Nonprofits & Other Organizations

 Screening of vehicles as at the Ronald Reagan Building

 Safe haven for National Mall visitors during inclement weather/ Shelter in Place

 Staging area for law enforcement personnel access to the facility during high-profile events such as July 4th and Presidential inaugurations General Services Administration Studies & Reports Congress, DC & Federal agencies, public Congress White House

American Institute of Architects, DC Chapter Louis Berger Group American Bus Association Newseum Committee of 100 on the Federal City Penn Quarter Association Destination DC SmithGroup DC Historic Preservation League Trust for Public Land Dutch Embassy Trust for the National Mall (NPS fundraising partner) Federal City Council Washington Post Editorial Board Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC Benefits DC: Reduce Congestion & Pollution “The proposed National Mall Underground would be the most dramatic improvement in bus parking capacity if constructed . . .” Smithsonian, NPS, National Gallery, Architect of Capitol: Water for irrigation Federal Govt.: Protect buildings from flooding Pooling of stormwater during 2006 flood GSA: Clean Energy for Government Buildings Mall Visitors: Improve Public Access Public Private Partnership (P3)

• Parking fees • Water credits • Sale of irrigation water • Geothermal Challenges

CHICAGO Millenium Park & Grant Park,

PHILADELPHIA Independence Mall WASHINGTON DC National Cathedral ROTTERDAM Parkeergarage Museumpark

AMSTERDAM Museumplein underground QPark ROTTERDAM Parkeergarage Museumpark “The Underground offers an innovative, multi-purpose potential alternative for stormwater retention and flood risk management . . . Revenue potential from parking fees and water credits may offer self-financing opportunities that attracts a public-private partnership. . .”

However, further study is needed • Operational risk assessment • Phased floodwater intake system • Geotechnical • Connecting to DC storm sewer

(Page E-1, E-2)

USACE Technical Review September 2018 Life Safety

Perform an operational risk analysis Phased Water Intake Predicting Flash Flooding Evacuating bus drivers and buses from floodable level Architect Arthur Cotton Moore’s floodable garage at Washington Harbour in Georgetown

SMART Tunnel traffic and flood tunnel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia SMART Tunnel traffic and flood tunnel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Forecast in 2006? National Weather Service forecast June 23-25, 2006

 Friday, June 23, 2006 “Flash Flood Watch” for entire DC region

 Saturday, June 24 “Flood Watch remains in effect”

“A stationary front across the mid Atlantic will remain over the area into early next week…bringing periods of heavy rain … which could lead to flash flooding”

 [Night of flooding] Sunday, June 25 “Flood Watch is in Effect”

The Washington Post, Sunday June 25, 2006, 6:18 p.m. “Flash Flood Watch Issued for the Region”

Design Concept by Arthur Cotton Moore FAIA Museum of Washington Natural History Monument

Castle

Floodwater flow from Constitution Avenue to groundwater cistern

Pump room

Staging of filling with flood waters

National Mall Underground Benefits Questions?  Multi-use  Largely self-funding  Flood reservoir  Irrigation cisterns  Bus parking: alleviate congestion & pollution  Safety by providing bus driver rest station  Visitor access to museums and monuments  Visitor amenities with information, restrooms  Geothermal clean energy Questions?