RFK National Stadium – design description

What did the RFK National Stadium project look like in brief?

The RFK National Stadium project was developed in early 2025 as a proposal during the debate over a new stadium for the NFL team Washington Commanders, which was planned to be built on the site of RFK Stadium.

The concept envisioned the construction of an entirely new arena that would also serve as a U.S. national stadium – an idea that had been referenced even before World War II but was never realized.

According to this vision, the stadium would primarily be a football venue, with the ability to adapt to other sports, such as athletics. Wood was proposed as the main structural material, and the stadium was planned to be fully covered with a transparent dome of a distinctive and unique form.

The vision was developed independently by KATO Design, a small studio whose ambitious project stood out for its professionalism, frequently appearing in the media and attracting attention for its scale, raising expectations for the future investment.

In early 2026, the Commanders presented the first official concept of a new stadium, developed by the HKS studio.

Who developed the RFK National Stadium project?

The vision was created by KATO Design, a small, relatively inexperienced studio. However, its founder and chief architect, Kyle Murphy, had previously worked on the U.S. Bank Stadium project – one of the more architecturally interesting stadiums built in the past decade in the United States and worldwide.

The renderings were published in the second half of January 2025 and were soon widely circulated in the media. According to the creators, the concept was developed independently, without collaboration with the Commanders or local authorities, and was presented as a proposal for further discussion.

What did the RFK National Stadium project propose?

KATO Design proposed a very interesting concept for a multifunctional stadium, featuring fully covered stands and playing field. The project was notable for using wood instead of steel as the main structural material, which would have made it the largest "wooden" stadium of its kind in the world and significantly reduced the building’s carbon footprint.

The fancifully shaped dome was intended to give the building a unique form, unprecedented in stadium architecture. The roof, as well as the two side facades, were to be covered with transparent panels.

The multi-level stands would have been designed to fit standard American football and soccer fields, but when retracted, they would have allowed space for an athletics track, similar to the setup at Stade de France. The stadium was also designed to accommodate basketball games, boxing events, and music concerts.

The stands behind the end zones were to be lower than the rest, creating two large “windows” through which at least some spectators could view the surrounding area. The view from the western window was expected to be especially impressive, offering sightlines to the Capitol and the Washington Monument. The stadium’s capacity was planned at approximately 70,000 spectators.

What was planned for the surroundings of RFK National Stadium?

The new stadium was to be built precisely on the site of the old RFK Stadium, but the plan also included the redevelopment of the adjacent parking lots for new construction: apartments (totaling 2,000 units), shops and restaurants, a hotel, and new multi-level parking structures.

The area was to be enhanced with landscaped squares, small architectural elements, and an attractive design of Kingman Lake’s shoreline, including the creation of a recreational path partially extending over the water.

What will ultimately be built in place of RFK Stadium?

From the outset, the RFK National Stadium project was an informal, unofficial proposal. Although the spectacular vision frequently appeared in the media, the possibility of its realization was never seriously considered.

The official concept for the new Washington Commanders stadium was presented only a year later, in early 2026. The plan envisions the construction of a modern, fully covered stadium with a capacity of 70,000, referencing the silhouette of the former RFK Stadium and Washington’s classical architecture. Construction is scheduled for 2027–2030.