Letter
Dear Mr. Hunter:
In its meeting of 15 October, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for a new building and associated landscape for Langdon Park Community Center, located at 2901 20th Street, NE. The Commission approved the proposed design and provided the following comments.
In their support for the proposal, the Commission members commented favorably on the overall building and site design, citing the appropriateness of the shingle-style rural building character for this facility set within a sloping park landscape. To bring more uniformity and tautness to the design, they recommended cladding the entire building in shingles without the proposed contrasting vertical panels. They also recommended revising the design of the dormers as sheds that extend above and below the eave line, and adding more dormers along the building’s west facade if possible. For the front entrance, they recommended refining the design, perhaps as a large shed dormer incorporating a porch or canopy, and using glass instead of metal panels above the door to introduce more light into the building lobby. For the design of the site, they recommended locating bio-retention facilities in less visually prominent areas away from the main entrance path; minimizing the extent of paving at the service area along the south side of the site; and adding benches at the lower two bends in the main accessible route in order to extend the pattern of episodic emphasis along this pathway.
The Commission looks forward to review of this project as a final submission. Please continue to consult 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: David Bagnoli, StudioMB
Adrienne McCray, Lee and Associates
Peter Nohrden, Department of Parks and Recreation