Nonprofit organisation Trust for the National Mall has announced twelve shortlisted entries in a competition to revamp three key spaces along the National Mall in Washington D.C. The potential site has been split into three sections over which architects and designers have been given free rein to reimage and reinvent the space. These three spaces are: Union Square; the Washington Monument Grounds at Sylvan Theater; and Constitution Gardens.

Donald Stastny, an architect brought in to oversee the competition which received 32 submissions, said: “The face of the mall is going to change quite dramatically. If you’re in Constitution Gardens, it’s going to be cool, as opposed to ‘How did I end up in this place?’” The winners - selected by a panel influenced by public comment - will be announced in May.

The shortlisted entries are as follows:

Union Square
Ken Smith Landscape Architect + Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Gustafson Guthrie Nichol + Davis Brody Bond
Snohetta + AECOM
Diller Scofidio Renfro + Hood Design

Sylvan Theatre
OLIN +Weiss/Manfredi
Michael Maltzan Architecture + Tom Leader Studio
Balmori Associates + Work Architecture Company
Diller Scofidio Renfro + Hood Design

Constitution Gardens
Andropogon + Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architect + Paul Murdoch Architects
Rogers Marvel Architects + Peter Walker and Partners
OLIN + Weiss/Mandredi