Letter
Dear Ms. O'Dell:
In its meeting of 15 July, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the proposed temporary modular office structure for the headquarters of the National Mall & Memorial Parks unit of the National Park Service (NPS). Although dismayed by the appearance of the proposed prefabricated trailer facility, the Commission recognized the difficulties the NPS faces in accommodating increased staff with limited funds and approved the project as a temporary installation for a period not to exceed four years, suggesting that the NPS use this time to develop a permanent facility for this unit.
The Commission members offered several suggestions to mitigate the appearance of this temporary structure. They recommended using dark window frames instead of white since the darker color would be less obtrusive. Similarly, they suggested that alternative exterior wall colors be considered to make the structure less prominent within the park landscape.
The Commission encouraged the National Park Service to seek a long-term solution to the problem posed by the frequent need for temporary office space in national parks. They urged the NPS to work with manufacturers of modular structures to develop an aesthetically appropriate design that could be used throughout the National Park System.
As always, the staff is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, AIA Secretary
Margaret O'Dell, Regional Director
National Park Service, National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
cc: Peter May, National Park Service