Frederick Douglass Bridge Project

Part of a competition to replace a failing bridge in DC, Howard+Revis was hired by the bridge’s designers and engineers to infuse the spirit of the bridge’s namesake, Frederick Douglass, into the developing design. Toward this effort, H+R conducted extensive research into the life and writings of Douglass, who used to frequently walk from his home in Anacostia across the old bridge to his downtown job or to meet with President Abraham Lincoln at the White House. The interpretive design concept included sculptures at the bridgeheads, bas-relief sculptural maps highlighting places of importance in Douglass’s life in DC, pavers along walking paths on both sides of the bridge etched with Douglass’s life milestones, quotes etched into the bridge abutments and cast bronze “books” on pedestals at the overlooks bringing to the fore Douglass’s writings on literacy and activism.