Letter
Dear Ms. Wright:
In its public meeting of 16 March conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a second concept submission for a new landscape design featuring artifacts from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, to be located on the south landscape of the Center Building on the St. Elizabeths West Campus, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Commission approved the submission and provided the following comments.
The Commission members expressed appreciation for the modifications to the design, which they found to be responsive to their previous advice and would result in an improved experience for employees and visitors at this National Historic Landmark property. As the design is developed, they suggested consideration of ways to accommodate pedestrian circulation through the oval-shaped plaza during events; they also recommended shading the plaza from the south, such as by planting a canopy tree that would provide protection from the summer sun while allowing for reciprocal views between the two sets of artifacts. Finally, they supported the revised proposal for the display and interpretation of the artifacts as consistent with the larger interpretive plan for the campus, which they said would be an appropriate way to present these powerful relics and to integrate the new landscape into the existing campus fabric.
The Commission looks forward to further review of this project. Please coordinate the next submission with the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Mina Wright, Director
Office of Planning & Design Quality
General Services Administration, National Capital Region
1800 F Street, NW, Suite 4400
Washington, DC 20405
cc: Paul Kempton, ZGF Architects
Hallie Boyce, OLIN
Tom Chaleki, Department of Homeland Security