Courtesy of jkohl.homestead.com. The original exterior of National Arena.
Courtesy of Urban Turf. Noticed where the rink used to be. Looked like it was a very large rink back then!
Google Map. Modern day view roughly same spot as the old AOW picture (see top). Noticed that there are no more stairs. They also narrowed the doorway by adding the space for their Modernism look through the canopy. And add a small garden. And a wall. Must be they lowered the floor, add elevator to reach 2nd floor plus stairs inside the building.
National Arena 1631 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC
Kalorama Roller Skating Rink and Bowling Alley 1631 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington, DC
There was a roller rink in this beautiful complex along with a bowling alley. In 1940, the building was built but the rink did not open till 1947. Apparently the Arena was for something else during World War II. So, architecturally, it was already advanced in 1940 with Mid-Century look mixed with Art Deco which was ending as the War began.
First known was the National Arena which opened in 1947 as a roller rink and a bowling alley. Likely they had multi-floors. One for the rink, the other bowling alley housed in a domed curved roof. Almost a Q-Hut. (See photo above of the complex) but it is an Art Deco form which was a little late in this era because it is usually 1920s to end of 1930s due to the war that the flair of Art Deco died down with World War. National Arena was built in 1947. Maybe it was designed before the War. And had ti built after the War. It has a refreshed Art Deco look in Google Map.
But first, it was mainly a roller rink and a bowling alley. A true multi-purpose entertainment center of its time which was rare under one roof. However, they went out of business and a movie theater complex came in as Citadel Motion Picture Center in 1986. Then they closed and Harris Teeter moved in. Harris Teeter is a supermarket chain. Did Harris Teeter remodeled into an Art Deco? Some evidence shown that they do have Art Deco appearance on some of their franchises. There is ONE photo of the rink sign exterior of this building and it appears more of Mid-Century Modernism on that front facade. The main doors to the rink was upstairs. It showed stairs to the main doors with the Roller Skating sign upon it. It was sporting Mid-Century/Post-Modernism rectangular facade vertically the same as the sign says. In background you will see it says Bowling. Apparently I figured right that the bowling alley was on ground floor as the rink upstairs on second floor.
Harris Teeter wanted it more Art Deco style. But the current building owner is Douglas Development which has retail spaces and 39 loft apartments had it designed more Art Deco. There is a controversy regarding the apartments. Many skaters wanted it back to a roller rink. Second of all, people and even reporters were saying why apartments in the center of the building without any windows!? The developers said they do but as skylights. People are concerned with building codes and fire regulations. Many felt it was a flaw. Good thing only 8 out of 39 apartments that had no windows but skylights.
Now, it is a grocery store on ground level with parking garage below. Above the grocery store are new loft apartments that has that curved roof for ceilings. There are not much information about the rink and bowling complex. It appears to be lost. I have no information on the rink except it was owned by AOW--Americans On Wheels. This is all I have based on what is out there on the internet. ONE website mentioned (See sources below).
I have no photos of the rink and bowling alley interior at all. Just the current developers' photos and Google Map.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple (likely) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 73,215 SF (present day). Built: 1940. Currently multi-purpose mix (retail and residential). Redeveloped in 2006 and 2013. Demolished: Still standing, renovated for mix use.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel and Block built Building. Late Period Art Deco.
Roof: Arched-Curve (Note: original touched to the roof base but they removed all around the roof for windows as they converted to apartments.)
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1947 to 1986 (exact date unknown)
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding National Arena/Kalorama Roller Skating Rink and Bowling Alley. Open date, close date, photos of interior. More exterior.
Sources: The Citadel Apartments, America On Wheels, Urban Turf, Border Stan, Washington Examinator
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved
Kalorama Roller Skating Rink and Bowling Alley 1631 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington, DC
There was a roller rink in this beautiful complex along with a bowling alley. In 1940, the building was built but the rink did not open till 1947. Apparently the Arena was for something else during World War II. So, architecturally, it was already advanced in 1940 with Mid-Century look mixed with Art Deco which was ending as the War began.
First known was the National Arena which opened in 1947 as a roller rink and a bowling alley. Likely they had multi-floors. One for the rink, the other bowling alley housed in a domed curved roof. Almost a Q-Hut. (See photo above of the complex) but it is an Art Deco form which was a little late in this era because it is usually 1920s to end of 1930s due to the war that the flair of Art Deco died down with World War. National Arena was built in 1947. Maybe it was designed before the War. And had ti built after the War. It has a refreshed Art Deco look in Google Map.
But first, it was mainly a roller rink and a bowling alley. A true multi-purpose entertainment center of its time which was rare under one roof. However, they went out of business and a movie theater complex came in as Citadel Motion Picture Center in 1986. Then they closed and Harris Teeter moved in. Harris Teeter is a supermarket chain. Did Harris Teeter remodeled into an Art Deco? Some evidence shown that they do have Art Deco appearance on some of their franchises. There is ONE photo of the rink sign exterior of this building and it appears more of Mid-Century Modernism on that front facade. The main doors to the rink was upstairs. It showed stairs to the main doors with the Roller Skating sign upon it. It was sporting Mid-Century/Post-Modernism rectangular facade vertically the same as the sign says. In background you will see it says Bowling. Apparently I figured right that the bowling alley was on ground floor as the rink upstairs on second floor.
Harris Teeter wanted it more Art Deco style. But the current building owner is Douglas Development which has retail spaces and 39 loft apartments had it designed more Art Deco. There is a controversy regarding the apartments. Many skaters wanted it back to a roller rink. Second of all, people and even reporters were saying why apartments in the center of the building without any windows!? The developers said they do but as skylights. People are concerned with building codes and fire regulations. Many felt it was a flaw. Good thing only 8 out of 39 apartments that had no windows but skylights.
Now, it is a grocery store on ground level with parking garage below. Above the grocery store are new loft apartments that has that curved roof for ceilings. There are not much information about the rink and bowling complex. It appears to be lost. I have no information on the rink except it was owned by AOW--Americans On Wheels. This is all I have based on what is out there on the internet. ONE website mentioned (See sources below).
I have no photos of the rink and bowling alley interior at all. Just the current developers' photos and Google Map.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple (likely) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 73,215 SF (present day). Built: 1940. Currently multi-purpose mix (retail and residential). Redeveloped in 2006 and 2013. Demolished: Still standing, renovated for mix use.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel and Block built Building. Late Period Art Deco.
Roof: Arched-Curve (Note: original touched to the roof base but they removed all around the roof for windows as they converted to apartments.)
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1947 to 1986 (exact date unknown)
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding National Arena/Kalorama Roller Skating Rink and Bowling Alley. Open date, close date, photos of interior. More exterior.
Sources: The Citadel Apartments, America On Wheels, Urban Turf, Border Stan, Washington Examinator
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved