Letter
Dear Mr. Beglinger:
In its meeting of 19 March, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for a new Arabian leopard exhibit at the National Zoological Park. The Commission approved the submission with the following comments.
The Commission members commented positively on the proposed design, comprising a mesh habitat enclosure supported by a series of tall steel arches, and a lower stone-clad animal care building. For the refinement of the design, they recommended minimizing the diameter of the enclosure’s structural supports and using wood slats for the shade structures, which they said would be a more appropriate material choice within the context of the National Zoo.
The Commission looks forward to further review of this important project and, as always, the staff is available to assist you with the next submission.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Michael Beglinger
Director of Planning, Operations, and Facilities
Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
cc: Marcus Wilkes, SmithGroup