Washington DC’s Entertainment and Sports Arena, a 114,000 SF facility designed to achieve LEED Gold®, is currently the only building in the U.S. to house a shared training facility for an NBA team, the Washington Wizards, and a WNBA team, the Washington Mystic.  This complex is also the home court for the Mystic.  The building has separate sections for Wizards and Mystics practices and its other uses.  SSR completed the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection design and incorporated variable speed DX compressors, air-side economizers, dedicated outdoor air unit with enthalpy wheels, outdoor airflow measuring stations, optimized HVAC controls, demand-based ventilation control strategy, low flow plumbing fixtures, high efficiency condensing water heaters, LED interior and exterior lighting to reduce lighting energy costs.

The practice facility boasts two practice courts, locker rooms, team offices and conference rooms, and additional training spaces. The arena portion, which features 4,200 seats, has concessions, restrooms, and upper grandstands with mezzanine seating. All told, the building stands on 3.8 acres of the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus.  The building is energy-efficient and is awaiting LEED certification.  It features green roof areas, onsite stormwater retention systems, and exterior walls that help conserve energy. The project also has bicycle storage inside and outside and specific parking spaces for low-emitting vehicles.  The project is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue for the District and introduce hundreds of thousands of annual visitors to Southeast, according to officials. In addition to the Wizards practices and Mystics practices and home games, the facility will host boxing matches, esports competitions, community events, and concerts.