Washington National Cathedral Master Plan    Washington, District of Columbia

Work began on The National Cathedral in 1995 with the development of the Master Plan for the grounds surrounding the Cathedral called the Close. MVLA continues to serve as the Landscape Architect for All Hallows Guild, the organization dedicated to the care and beautification of the Close. This relationship has resulted in multiple projects at a range of scales. The Master Plan provides a framework that balances the needs of the Cathedral and the four schools of the 57-acre Close with the impact of substantial visitation and the Cathedral's fundamental purpose of worship. The work was keyed closely to the "carrying capacity" of the site and measured carefully against the Olmsted Brothers 1910 and 1924 Master Plans. MVLA's work for The Guild includes The Bishop's Garden, The Herb Cottage Garden, the West Front, the North Garage and an outdoor amphitheater. MVLA collaborated with Torti Gallas and Partners on the Master Plan and SmithGroup on the North Garage design.