Letter
Dear Ms. O'Dell:
In its meeting of 19 February, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the proposed pedestrian sign program for the National Mall. The Commission approved several components of the proposal as a concept while providing recommendations for refining the design in a subsequent submission.
The Commission supported the general use of the National Park Service's UniGuide system to consolidate signage types in the overall effort to reduce visual clutter on the National Mall. However, regarding the two new pylon-type signs, the Commission recommended against the taller pylon sign and approved only the smaller pylon. The Commission also supported the proposed map signs but recommended that they not be used in conjunction with the pylon signs, commenting that a single sign—either map or pylon—would be sufficient at any location. The Commission strongly discouraged the use of the monument-type sign to identify buildings and memorials on the National Mall, noting that identification signage is already incorporated into many of these structures or could be incorporated into existing design features; for example, in the case of the Lincoln Memorial, identification could be integrated more appropriately into the new stone retaining walls.
The Commission looks forward to seeing further development of the design with specific information documenting existing conditions and proposed locations, as well as coordination and compatibility with other types of street and park furniture.
As always, the staff is available to assist you with the next submission.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Margaret O'Dell, Regional Director
National Park Service, National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
cc: Peter May, National Park Service
Wayne Hunt, Hunt Design