Letter
Dear Ms. Rutter:
In its meeting of 20 November, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the revised concept for the south expansion of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at 2700 F Street, NW. The Commission members expressed strong support for the development of the design and provided several recommendations for its further refinement.
In their support of the submission, the Commission members commented on the exceptional quality of the concept overall, noting that the resolution of details—particularly in how different planes and materials conjoin—is critical to the ultimate success of the design. Expressing appreciation for the development of the landscape design since the previous review, they continued to recommend that more trees be planted between the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway and the addition. Recognizing the difficulty in planting successfully on such steep slopes, they suggested that retaining structures could be introduced—in the same formal language of the thin white linear elements of canopies and bulkheads—and might be used more extensively to unify the composition of walls, openings, bridges, and intermittent railings. Noting the impact of the adjacent highway bridge abutment, they suggested exploring ways to mitigate the visual and auditory impact of the traffic on the gingko grove, which is intended to be a quiet and contemplative space.
The Commission looks forward to review of this project and the development of the details of the design. As always, the staff is available to assist you with the next submission.
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Deborah Rutter, President
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566-0001
cc: Chris McVoy, Steven Holl Architects Edmund Hollander, Hollander Design