Letter
Dear Ms. Tunstall Williams:
In its public meeting of 18 June conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for a three-story educational building in the easternmost section of The Yards, to be located on Parcel P-3 along the Anacostia waterfront and adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard. In accordance with the review process established in the 2005 Memorandum of Agreement between the General Services Administration and the Commission of Fine Arts regarding the redevelopment of the former Southeast Federal Center, the Commission approved the submission with the following recommendations for the continued development of the design.
The Commission members expressed strong support for the important mission and program of this educational building that would serve the community and contribute to this vibrant part of the city. They commended the overall design of the building, citing its beautiful aesthetic quality, appropriate scale, and contextual landscape. Regarding the development of the design, they observed that the proposed thermally modified wood cladding may present long-term durability issues in this maritime environment, and they recommended studying precedents for using this material in similar conditions. They also recommended maximizing opportunities for shading on the south facade, solar panels, and green roofs in order to improve energy performance. For the site, they recommended continuing to study universal access to the waterfront to improve visitor experience and to provide as direct a connection to the building as possible.
The Commission looks forward to the review of future projects for the continued development of The Yards. As always, the staff is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Kristi Tunstall Williams, Director
Office of Planning & Design Quality
General Services Administration, National Capital Region
1800 F Street, NW, Suite 4400
Washington, DC 20405
cc: Brian Pilot, Studios Architecture
Teresa Martin, Living Classrooms