Letter
Dear Mr. Lewis:
In its meeting of 21 June, the Commission of Fine Arts approved, based on its prior review of the submission materials, the concept design for a new master time clocks and operations facility for the United States Naval Observatory in Observatory Circle on Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
In their approval of the submission, the Commission members expressed appreciation for the extensive research and analysis of the historic landscape and the existing resources on the Observatory campus, which has resulted in successfully siting the proposed facility in a location that would minimize its impact on the historic campus. They also recommended that the Navy continue to develop strategies and systems for stormwater management for the campus as a whole, with the goal of significantly reducing the runoff that is currently degrading Dumbarton Run to the south of the Observatory property.
The Commission encourages the design team to continue to consult with the staff in preparing the next submission. As always, the staff is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Thomas P. Lewis
Environmental Business Line Coordinator
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington
Washington Navy Yard
1314 Harwood Street, SE
Washington, DC 20374-5018
cc: CDR Richard Pocholski, U.S. Naval Observatory
Mike Wright, Wiley Wilson/Burns McDonnell Joint Venture
Elisabeth Lardner, Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects