Letter
Dear Mr. Rombach:
In its meeting of 15 May, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the revised design for the perimeter security barriers on the south and southwest of the National Museum of Natural History. The Commission approved the use of a cable barrier system located within shrubs along the majority of the museum's frontage on Madison Drive and 12th Street in place of the previously approved barrier walls. In addition, the Commission approved the installation of stone boulders to create the barrier at the southeast corner of the block along with the proposed modifications to the top of the two stairways that lead down to the areaway. The Commission members expressed appreciation for the design team's efforts to reduce the visual and physical impact of these security barriers and to design a new system that could be more easily removed in the future.
Should there be any other major changes made before or during construction, please contact the staff and we will assist you in determining if additional review is required.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Harry Rombach
Associate Director for Facilities Master Planning
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012, MRC 511
Washington, DC 20013-7012
cc: Hany Hassan, Beyer Blinder Belle