Letter
Dear Mr. Clark:
In its meeting of 16 June, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a revised concept submission for additions and alterations to the William McChesney Martin, Jr. Building of the Federal Reserve System, located at 20th and C Streets, NW. Commending the project as a welcome improvement over the previous proposal, the Commission approved the concept design.
The Commission members supported the decision to treat the three new pavilions as structures separate from but related to the existing building, commenting that they would complement the strong character of the original building. In particular, they expressed strong support for the calm, elegant design of the side pavilions, which feature an interplay of solid stone planes and a glassy, rectilinear enclosure system. While they endorsed the reduced size of the proposed entry pavilion on the long south elevation, they questioned its angular, transparent form, which they found to be too foreign and discordant in relation to the main building. They recommended refining this pavilion’s design to enhance the experience of the visitor by reducing the impact of glare and direct sunlight, and possibly reworking its formal character to be more directly related to the new end pavilions. They expressed enthusiasm for the intention to engage Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, the project’s original landscape architecture firm, in renewing this significant landscape design.
The Commission looks forward to further review of this project. As always, the staff is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Michell C. Clark
Director, Management Division
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Washington, DC 20551
cc: Marie S. Savoy, Federal Reserve Board
Shalom Baranes, Shalom Baranes Associates