Letter
Dear Mr. Seaman:
In its meeting of 16 April, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the final design for a new residential building to be located at 750 Maine Avenue, SW, in the Southwest Waterfront development area known as The Wharf (case number SL 15-103). The Commission approved the design, subject to the following recommendations, and delegated the review and approval of the final submission to the staff.
In their discussion, the Commission members expressed appreciation for the refinement of the design subsequent to the comments and concept approval of 2012. They observed that the intended visual richness of the project and sense of human scale will be achieved through the varied architecture along the length of the waterfront and need not be created through excessive complexity in the facades. Accordingly, they recommended more clarity and simplicity in the detailing of the facades and in the range of the material palette. They particularly questioned the inconsistent and confusing use of brick on this building in varying configurations, colors, and tectonic conditions; they concluded that further development of the facades would result in a more elegant design.
The Commission reiterated its overall support for the master plan for The Wharf and looks forward to the review of forthcoming submissions for the remaining development parcels. Please coordinate with the staff for the submission of revised final documents that address the Commission's recommendations.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Shawn Seaman
Hoffman-Madison Waterfront
690 Water Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
cc: Gary Handel, Handel Architects
Jennifer Steingasser, D.C. Office of Planning