A dynamic entertainment corridor adjacent to the future home of the Washington Commanders proposes a new destination for D.C., and earned six graduate students from the University of Maryland’s Real Estate Development Program first place in the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP) DC l MD 2026 Capital Challenge. The win marks the fourth time Maryland has taken the top prize in the intercollegiate real estate competition for the Washington, D.C. area.
Under the leadership of Lecturer Ron McDonald, master’s students Paul Abonjuah, Shekinah D’Brass, Sai Jillellamudi, Joshua Kim, Victor Ojo and David Ragland went head-to-head with teams from Georgetown University and George Mason University to nab the Capital Challenge Cup and a $10,000 prize.
“I am so proud of the students and the work they presented to earn this win,” said Tanya Bansal, director of UMD’s Real Estate Development Program. “It's one thing to have really exceptional students, but another to see them come together as a team and really believe in each other. It was extraordinary to see.”
The Capital Challenge is a case study competition hosted annually by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, where teams from collegiate real estate programs compete to develop and present proposals for a real property in the Washington metropolitan area. Teams must formulate a proposed investment strategy and develop a comprehensive analysis with recommendations that will maximize the potential of the property, while showing that it is both feasible and financially advantageous.
UMD’s winning project, the Axis, developed a 23.9-acre site adjacent to the Washington Commanders' new home at the site of RFK stadium. Capitalizing on the region’s demand for housing and the hospitality needs to support game spectators and tourism, the team crafted a high-density, mixed-use development anchored by a destination entertainment/hotel district. Over 1700 equitable residential units benefit from the energy of the entertainment district and focused retail that fosters a sense of community and place.
The team’s faculty member, Ron McDonald, stressed the importance of activating the space year-round, not just on game days, said Abonjuah, urging them to pursue unique partnerships, like Netflix House, and creative placemaking initiatives to set their project apart. The Commanders “Walk of Fame,” a public exhibit conceived by D’Brass, wowed Commanders judges as a vehicle for activating the space between the neighborhood and stadium campus.
“Setting ourselves apart required us to make some bold decisions and ‘think the unthinkable,’ and we owe that to our professor,” said Abonjuah. “He really got us thinking outside the box.”
Other details, like the Axis’ phased marketing strategy and a plan to address traffic, demonstrated an attention to detail not seen in other proposals, giving UMD the clear edge over its competition.
“I didn’t foresee how much hard work we would have to put into it,” said D’Brass, who is in her first year of the program. “We were not only learning the process and the industry, but about working as a team. It was such a great experience.”
MAPP alums and consultants from KGD Architecture, AMT Engineers, DPR Construction, Trammell Crow Company and Founders Bank provided expertise and mentorship for Maryland’s team.
NAIOP is the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate. Learn more about the Capital Challenge.