The first piece of the Old Convention Center redevelopment in downtown Washington to win design approval isn’t an office building or a condominium complex, but a critical cornerstone park.

The park’s preliminary design won praise last week from the National Capital Planning Commission who commended the “a high-quality, durable, and environmentally sustainable design that respects historic L’Enfant streets and reservations of the District of Columbia,” according to the NCPC action report.