Letter
Dear Mr. Anderson:
In its public meeting of 18 November conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for the modernization and expansion of Raymond Elementary School, located at 915 Spring Road, NW. The Commission approved the concept proposal with the following comments for the development of the design.
The Commission members expressed appreciation for the design team’s responsiveness to their previous comments, observing that the proposal successfully balances qualities of both dignity and playfulness which is appropriate for an elementary school building. They supported the presented option of punched windows with textural brick spandrels as providing the appropriate scale for the school, and they supported using this design approach on all facades, commenting that the punched windows will establish a stronger visual connection to the historic school building. For the design of the new entrance facade, they supported Option 2, which comprises a solid form clad in metal panels with a deeply recessed large window opening that will focus the view through the building, emphasizing transparency at the ground-floor entrance. Regarding the color choices presented for the finish of the metal panels in Option 2, the Commission members expressed a preference for the gray-green color, commenting that this calm shade would both complement the brick and establish a visual relation with the landscape, and they recommended that this finish be used for all metal elements of the facades.
The Commission looks forward to the next review of this noteworthy addition to the D.C. public school system. As always, the staff is available to assist you with the next submission.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Keith A. Anderson, Director
D.C. Department of General Services
2000 14th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
cc: Hiroshi Jacobs, Studios Architecture
Sharon Bradley, Bradley Site Design
Nicholas Williams, D.C. Public Schools
Patrick Moloney, D.C. Department of General