Letter
Dear Mr. Kayne:
In its meeting of 16 July, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for alterations and additions to the Mamie D. Lee School, located at 100 Gallatin Street, NE, to be used jointly by the Bridges Public Charter School, the Briya Public Charter School, and a Mary's Center health clinic. The Commission did not take an action and made the following comments and recommendations for the development of the design.
The Commission complimented the design team for the proposed organization of the multiple users in the facility and encouraged further expression of the program through the structure's architectural form. However, they questioned the articulation of the proposed additions in relation to the existing building, suggesting that the design could use the concrete pedestrian bridges more deliberately to articulate transitions between programmatic areas and their architectural expression. While they also strongly supported the planning idea to open up the building complex to the park landscape on the east, they expressed concern that the proposed site plan would isolate the building complex from the surrounding context on all sides with extensive pavement. Instead, they suggested that the small half-block portion of Gallatin Street east of Fort Totten Drive could be used to accommodate the bus turn-around and student drop-off area, potentially allowing for the removal of the driveway adjacent to the courtyard on the east side of the property and connecting this central space directly to the park lands to the east.
The Commission looks forward to the review of a more fully developed design. As always, the Commission staff is available to assist you with the next submission.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Jonathan Kayne, Interim Director
D.C. Department of General Services
2000 14th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
cc: John K. Burke, Studio Twenty Seven Architecture