CFA 17/MAR/11-3

Dear Mr. Cleland:

In its meeting of 17 March, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the concept design for additions and modifications to the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England. The Commission expressed appreciation for the design revisions and improved documentation in response to its previous comments and approved the new submission with several recommendations for further refinement.

The Commission members recommended simplifying the alignment of the path between the existing visitor center and proposed interpretive center, omitting the barricaded overlook and instead configuring the path to provide the desired views of the cemetery's central flagpole. They also recommended reducing the visual impact of the ramp providing access to the interpretive center's entrance landing, such as by relocating the ramp or designing it to a slope not requiring a handrail. They supported the refinement to consolidate a single point of entry for visitors arriving by car and by bus; they recommended that the linear bus drop-off area, expanded to accommodate three buses, be treated more sensitively with a slight curve corresponding to the overall character of the site and landscape.

The Commission emphasized its overall support for the proposal and delegated the review of the final design submission to the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.

Sincerely,

/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary

The Hon. Max Cleland, Secretary
American Battle Monuments Commission
Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500
2300 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201-3367

cc: John Cole, Bland Brown & Cole Architects
Harry Robinson, TRG Consulting Global