Letter
Dear Ms. Mendelson-Ielmini:
In its meeting of 20 September, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept proposal for a new park ranger station and public restroom facility in Arlington Ridge Park, part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, for a site between the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and the Netherlands Carillon. The Commission approved the concept with the following comments and delegated review of the final design to the staff.
The Commission members expressed support for the proposal, commending its simple, modern massing and thoughtful selection of materials. However, they questioned the relationship of the building to the approach walk, observing that the proposed site plan centers this walk axially on the restroom entrances—creating awkward sightlines and an inappropriate emphasis for this function. Therefore, they recommended reorienting the building or path slightly in order to shift the primary view, with consideration of topography and prevailing wind direction in adjusting the site plan, while maintaining appropriate visibility for access and safety. For the area of structured turf in front of the building, they recommended placing it on both sides of the approach walk; for the material palette of the building itself, they suggested using a mortar color that does not contrast strongly with the color of the brick.
The Commission advises further consideration of such issues as materials and lighting as the final design is developed. Please coordinate with the staff for the delegated review of the final design submission.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini, Acting Regional Director
National Park Service, National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
cc: Alison Ledwith, EYP
Becky May, Rhodeside and Harwell