Letter
Dear Capt. Rice: In its meeting of 19 March, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for a new laboratory facility on the Naval Research Laboratory campus in Southwest Washington. The Commission did not take an action and provided the following comments for the development of the design.
Citing the recent Executive Order, “Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again,” the Commission members found the design to be inappropriate for this important research institution serving the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Accordingly, they recommended that the new laboratory and storage buildings be redesigned to follow the policies included in this directive, as well as drawing upon the rich traditional architecture in military installations in the United States, particularly in the National Capital Region.
The Commission members commented that the laboratory facade articulation and material selection—consisting of a glazed curtain wall on the north, metals panels with staggered punched windows of varying sizes on the south, glass with vertical fins on the west, and corrugated metal panels on the east—would result in an uninspiring building that could accommodate any function and be located anywhere. For example, they commented that the east facade, featuring a blank wall facing a historic district and common green space, would be the elevation presented to the majority of people working and visiting this military installation. In general, they recommended considering the specific programmatic requirements, arrival experience, and relationship with the rest of the installation, including the historic context to the east, the Potomac River to the west, and the existing buildings to the north and south, with the goal of creating a noble work of architecture within this setting. For the two storage buildings, they recommended using hipped roofs to make them more compatible with the historic context.
The Commission looks forward to reviewing a new concept design submission for 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
Capt. Sarah B. Rice, Executive Officer
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375
cc: Daniel Milcheck, Pond Michael Baker Joint Venture
Marcel Acosta, National Capital Planning Commission