Letter
Dear Mr. Hunter:
In its public meeting of 20 June conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design submission for a new one-story cafeteria addition to the west end of Stoddert Elementary School, located at 4001 Calvert Street, NW, in the Glover Park neighborhood. The Commission approved the submission and provided the following comments.
The Commission members commended the design as an ambitious and thoughtful solution for the challenges of this steeply sloping site. They expressed support for the overall planning, noting that the use of brick for the cafeteria addition would complement the brick of the original school building. They commented on the playful quality of the asymmetrical cutouts in the brick piers, which will form an arcade along the front facade; they recommended further study of the cut-out arches to ensure that the resulting space would be usable. They also endorsed the intent to develop a patterned treatment for the brick volume above the arcade, which will conceal mechanical equipment and a green roof.
For the final submission, the Commission requested further details of the brick at the arcade and the wall above it. Please continue consulting on the development of this project with the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Delano Hunter, Director
D.C. Department of General Services
3924 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20019
cc: Salo Levinas, Shinberg Levinas Architects
Renee Pean, D.C. Public Schools