Washington’s story today is written as much in cranes and term sheets as in C-SPAN sound bites. The Smithsonian breaks ground this year on the Perkins & Will-designed Bezos Learning Center, funded by a portion of Jeff Bezos’s $200-million gift and set to crown the revamped Air & Space Museum by 2027.
The hotel pipeline included the debut of lifestyle brand Arlo Washington DC’s 445 rooms in late 2024 inside the landmark Harrison Apartments, with rooftop views from its ART DC lounge, while Marriott’s Canal House of Georgetown opened in February 2025 with townhome-style suites on the C&O Canal. Destination DC’s announcement of a record 27 million visitors in 2024 (and $11.4 billion in spend) fares well for the capacity.
Developers are betting big, too. Canada’s PSP Investments acquired The Wharf in April 2025, affirming global faith in the 3.5-million-square-foot waterfront development. Across the river, St. Elizabeths East has delivered housing and retail and has a 20,000-square-foot library in the plans. Green space expansion – already earning the city a Top 10 ranking – remains a key part of its growth. Capital is following the planet’s most-educated residents, with billions in investment ranging from corporations to the Commanders of the NFL (and their new RFK Stadium revitalization).