It goes without saying that building bridges connects things, both literally and figuratively. The 11th Street Bridge Park in Southeast Washington, D.C., attempts to do much more. Its designer, OMA, together with landscape architect OLIN, sees it as a place of exchange —and its X shape, rising like criss-crossing springboards over the Anacostia River, will offer various indoor and outdoor spaces for the ambitious programs planned, including an environmental education center, performance venue, café, and an open plaza for markets and festivals. “Our hope is that the shape is iconic but also inviting,” says OMA partner Jason Long. “We want to create an inclusive place where people feel welcome.”