Letter
Dear Mr. Hunter:
In its public meeting of 18 April conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for the renovation and expansion of the Leckie Education Campus at 4201 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, SW. The Commission members approved the concept design and delegated the review of the final design to the staff, providing the following comments.
In their overall support for the concept proposal, the Commission members encouraged strengthening the design of the addition to reflect the clarity and simplicity of the existing building. Accordingly, they recommended simplifying the design of the addition by removing unnecessary projections and indentations— such as at the science lab and the restrooms—and by reducing the number of different cladding materials, perhaps eliminating the proposed masonry banding or glass-fiber reinforced concrete. For the design of the site, they recommended being more deliberate in separating the proposed play areas from the new parking lots, with additional vegetation to improve the overall experience for the children. They also recommended restudying the configuration of the pedestrian ramp at the southeastern egress doors to encourage equitable movement through the site.
Please coordinate the delegated final review 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: Ronnie McGhee, R. McGhee & Associates
Renee Pean, D.C. Public Schools