Letter
Dear Mr. Hunter:
In its public meeting of 16 January conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a second concept submission for a new facility at the Fort Davis Recreation Center, located at 1400 41st Street, SE. The Commission approved the submission and provided the following comments for the development of the design.
The Commission members expressed appreciation for the comprehensive exploration of whether the existing building could be preserved in any form, and they agreed that its reuse would not be feasible given its compromised and heavily altered condition. In their support for the construction of a new building and landscape, they advised further simplification of the “two sails” concept, particularly where the lobby roof slopes down toward the wall of the large gymnasium volume. They also recommended studying the width of the central corridor to ensure generous space for circulation and gathering during busy events. For the proposed solar panels, they suggested that these be integrated into the roof design to create an attractive architectural feature. They also recommended incorporating other sustainable strategies into the design, such as by including elements to control solar heat gain, reusing high-carbon materials currently on the site, and installing solar canopies. Regarding the proposed landscape design, they encouraged further study of the various site and building entrances, stairs, and walkways to ensure maximum accessibility across the steeply sloped site.
The Commission looks forward to reviewing a final design submission for this important project. Please continue to consult on the development of the design 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: Ben Scarbro, Perkins Eastman DC
Holt Jordan, Jordan Honeyman Landscape Architecture
Peter Nohrden, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation