In May 2023, Mayor Bowser announced a deal with Therme Group to build a ‘water & wellness’ center here in the District!.
The European wellness company has several locations around Germany and Romania, each with a glass-enclosed family-friendly waterpark zone, mineral pools, sauna rooms, lounges, and more!
While the agreement between D.C. and Therme Group was stalled to find the “right” location around the District for the new wellness center, just last week, Therme Group announced that the project will move forward after settling on a location.
Where is the water and wellness center going to be located?
The water and wellness center is set to be built on 15 acres at Poplar Point along the Anacostia River, just across from Navy Yard in the District’s Ward 8.
Progress of the center’s construction over the coming years will be visible from the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, not far from the Poplar Point Parking Lot.
What is the water and wellness center in D.C. going to look like?
The first rendering provided by the Therme Group shows an incredibly green and vibrant area featuring at least two enclosed glass structures that house the water and wellness center.
If the water and wellness center planned for Washington, D.C. is anything like the Therme Group locations built in Europe, expect a family-friendly waterpark area and a dedicated wellness area with mineral pools, thermal baths, saunas, lounges, and more!
The second rendering above shows a snapshot of what the water and wellness center might look like inside!
You can see the modern design of the enclosed glass building, along with tons of greenery in the background – the imagery of people walking freely in bathing suits suggests the area will be climate-controlled and serve as an attraction for tourists and locals alike.
Why is D.C. building a water and wellness center?
According to Mayor Bowser’s administration, the water and wellness center should generate around $1.5 billion in tax revenue over the next 25 years, create around 5,000 jobs as part of the construction process, and subsequently create 720 permanent jobs upon completion.
The center will also serve as an additional attraction for tourists to visit as they plan trips to the District!
The planned location for the water and wellness center, Poplar Point, takes up around 110 acres of the District’s Ward 8, with which Therme Group will use only around 15 acres to create this ‘state-of-the-art’ health and wellbeing destination.