For generations Washington, D.C.’s Anacostia River has been a dividing line between Capitol Hill—a burgeoning neighborhood where new residents are flocking to historic row houses and new condos—and the Anacostia neighborhood—where sluggish economic growth has left empty storefronts and rising poverty.

Now design firm OMA, founded by Rem Koolhaas, has partnered with the landscape architects at Philadelphia- and Los Angeles–based firm OLIN on a winning elevated-garden and bridge design that aims to bring the divided community together.

"A kind of connectivity is really vital in both directions," says OMA designer Jason Long. "We’re always interested in using buildings as a social catalyst."

In a government-funded competition for 11th Street Bridge Park, OMA’s X-shaped structure was chosen over three other finalists in a decision made not only by the city but by community residents. The park, projected to open in 2018, will be situated on an aged-out freeway bridge built in the 1960s. The piers, or structural supports of the bridge, remain strong, and the designers have been tasked with constructing a new deck that will include performance spaces and cafes. In OMA’s plan, a green space where the two walkways intersect will encourage residents from each side to gather in the center. Large gardens will be created on the Capitol Hill side, where plant life is slim, and a café and play space will be installed on the Anacostia side, next to the preexisting Anacostia Park.

"We wanted the bridge to have a civic importance," Long says. "It holds its own against very monumental elements within D.C.—but at the same time it’s very approachable. It’s meant for people."