Letter
Dear Mr. Rombach:
Thank you for the second information presentation on the site selection study for the National Museum of African American History and Culture of the Smithsonian Institution at our recent meeting of 20 October. The Commission appreciates the Smithsonian's ongoing consultation regarding this important addition to Washington's family of national cultural institutions.
In considering the sites proposed for the museum, the Commission members commented that the Washington Monument site was in some ways the most problematic because of the prominence of all four of its sides and the difficulty in providing service access to the building. They noted that two of the sites, the Liberty Loan Building and the Banneker Overlook, offer the potential for the museum to be a highly visible gateway element into the city. Their discussion also emphasized that the Arts and Industries Building, adjacent to the Smithsonian Castle and the National Museum of African Art, was clearly an excellent location directly on the National Mall; they requested further analysis of how the museum's program could reasonably be accommodated within the building if it were completely renovated.
The Commission looks forward to seeing further development of the options, particularly the Arts and Industries Building. Please coordinate with the staff on the next presentation for the museum's site selection.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Harry Rombach
Associate Director for Facilities Master Planning
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
VB8300 MRC973
Washington, DC 20013-7012
cc: Lonnie Bunch, NMAAHC
Lawrence M. Small, SI
William Brown, PSP