DC Department of General Services Celebrates a Year of National Recognition for Award-Winning Public Projects

(WASHINGTON, DC) - The DC Department of General Services (DGS) is reflecting on a year of national and regional recognition for public buildings delivered across the District. Throughout 2025, DGS projects earned awards honoring excellence in construction, sustainability, design, engineering, and community impact.

"This recognition reflects the care and intention our teams bring to every project," said DGS Director Delano Hunter. "We are proud to deliver public buildings that serve our communities, support sustainability, and stand the test of time.

Several DGS school projects received significant recognition in 2025. Dorothy I. Height Elementary School was one of the most awarded projects of the year, earning honors for craftsmanship, renovation, and restoration (including awards for masonry restoration), building systems design, and overall engineering excellence from the 2025 Architectural Engineering Institute Professional Project Awards. The project was also named Best Overall Project under $100 million by the Architectural Engineering Institute and received an Excellence in Construction Award in the Metro Washington and Northern Virginia region.

John Lewis Elementary School reached several historic milestones in 2025. The school became officially Net Zero Energy Certified, meaning it produces as much renewable energy as it uses each year. John Lewis Elementary also became the first educational facility in the District-and one of only a few worldwide-to achieve LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum, and Zero Energy Certification. In addition, the project received a national AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Award, recognizing it as a leading model for sustainable school design.

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School was recognized with a 2025 Metropolis Magazine Planet Positive Award in the K-12 Education category, honoring the school's environmentally responsible design. Raymond Elementary School was recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for its sustainable features and performance and is currently being considered for additional national design recognition.

DGS recreation and public space projects were also recognized throughout the year. Stead Park Recreation Center earned a First Place ASHRAE Technology Award for excellence in the design and operation of an energy-efficient existing building. The Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center received multiple design awards recognizing excellence in institutional architecture from AIA Potomac Valley while the Reservoir Park Recreation Center and Master Plan was honored by Engineering News-Record (ENR) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and named a the ENR MidAtlantic 2025 Project of the Year.

Together, these awards reflect the leadership of Mayor Muriel Bowser and the dedication of DGS staff, architects, engineers, contractors, and partners who deliver high-performing public facilities across all eight wards.

As DGS looks ahead to 2026, these recognitions reinforce the agency's commitment to building spaces that support learning, wellness, sustainability, and community pride throughout the District.