Letter
Dear Mr. Newton:
During its meeting of 19 May 2005, the Commission reviewed the updated master plan for the Pentagon Reservation. The members were very pleased with the approach outlined in the development plan for improving and greening the Pentagon’s surroundings. The Commission members felt that eliminating large areas of surface parking in the reservation and the construction of green-roofed structures to accommodate the vehicles was one of the most beneficial aspects of the master plan.
The stated concerns for the environment and the use of sustainable strategies were also much appreciated. The one item of concern to the members was the potentially negative visual impact of the parking structures adjacent to the Pentagon Lagoon. It was suggested that terraced landscaping, similar to that on the parking structures at Ronald Reagan National Airport and Arlington National Cemetery, be incorporated into their design to soften the edges and minimize their visual bulk. The members encourage the Department of Defense to include well-qualified and talented landscape architects on each of the design teams as these individual projects are brought forward, ensuring that the environmental features are of the highest order and that the reservation’s new landscaping is sensitively addressed.
The Commission looks forward to reviewing the individual projects contained in the master plan as they develop and recommends that you have the individual project teams coordinate with our staff as early as possible in the projects’ development. As always, the staff is available should you or your design team require additional guidance.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Mr. Ralph E. Newton, Director, Defense Facilities, Department of Defense
Washington Headquarters Services
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1155
cc: Phyllis Kaplan, Project Manager, DoD
Charlotte Kosmela, SmithGroup