Letter
Dear Ms. Mendelson-Ielmini:
In its meeting of 17 October, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept proposal to provide for the addition of names to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located at Judiciary Square in the 400 block between E and F Streets, NW. The Commission approved the concept with the following comments.
The Commission members expressed support for the proposal to add a vertical extension to the existing marble walls on the east and west sides of the memorial with fifteen-inch-high panels of the same marble, characterizing this as a reasonable solution to the problem of accommodating more names over the coming decades. Citing the success of this memorial as a well-used public space, they urged the consideration of the impact of the higher walls on the visitor experience by night as well as by day. Recognizing that the lower branches of the aerial hedge will need to be pruned to maintain an appropriate spacing above the walls, they advised pruning before construction begins. They also advised the careful development of project specifications to avoid damage to the existing walls during the demolition and construction process.
As always, the staff is available to assist you in the development of the final design.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini, Acting Director
Region 1–National Capital Area
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
cc: Davis Buckley, Davis Buckley Architects and Planners