Capital One Arena

Entertaining Our Nation's Capital
The highly professional manner in which the team conducted itself with all members of the overall project team established a constructive atmosphere that helped the entire team complete this magnificent arena on time, a tremendous feat in itself.
John Stranix, President, Capital One Arena Operations
Location: 
Washington, DC
Client: 
Monumental Sports Entertainment
Size: 
1,000,000 Square Feet
Year Completed: 
1997

Under a joint venture, design-build contract, Clark constructed Capital One Arena, home to the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards. The project team completed the arena in only 19 months despite difficult site conditions. Since its opening in 1997, Capital One Arena has been pivotal to the revitalization of Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown neighborhood.

Capital One Arena is a 20,000-seat arena with three levels of suites that start just 19 rows from the playing surface. The venue includes general concessions, premium-level food and beverage outlets, general and club-level concessions, commissaries, kitchens, lower-level lounges and a club restaurant, with seating for 350 people.

To build Capital One Arena's structure, the project team erected a total of 6,600 tons of structural steel, which amounts to 12,000 pieces and included gigantic roof trusses, each weighing close to 200 tons.

The state-of-the-art arena incorporated complex electrical and mechanical systems. The facility's lighting is controlled by an elaborate, computer system. Throughout the building, Z-Panels allowed standardized camera, microphone, intercom and data/communication access nearly anywhere in the arena. “Show Power” was delivered to stage areas through a completely separate electrical distribution system meeting requirements for special grounding and high voltage for large, high-tech performances and also providing elements of redundancy for the complex. 

One of the building’s greatest amenities, its location at the bustling Gallery Place Metro Station in Washington, DC, was also one of its greatest construction challenges. One of the Metro station entrances was demolished and relocated to a corner directly in front of the arena. This work required coordination with utility workers to relocate extremely crucial underground telecommunications lines which serve the nearby Supreme Court, Congress, and the White House. In addition, the Metro lies directly underneath Capital One Arena's event floor. The structure’s foundation is located over and around the curved subway tunnel and adjacent to the Metro station. General excavation was made within 10 feet of the tunnel, which remained in constant use throughout the project. 

Small & Minority Business Participation

Clark achieved 42 percent Certified Business Enterprise participation on Capital One Arena, exceeding the Washington Convention and Sports Authority’s goal of 35 percent. In addition, Clark developed specialized programs for first-source hiring of District of Columbia residents, community involvement, and trades work mentoring.

Awards: 
ABC Metro Washington - Certificate of Commendation
ABC Metro Washington - Excellence in Construction, Mega Project - $100 Million+
DBIA - Best Public Project $15 Million+
DBIA - Private Sector, Top Award
NAIOP - Award of Merit for Best Interiors, Commercial Space
WBC Craftsmanship Award - Metals/Structural Steel Framing