CFA 19/MAY/11-2

Dear Secretary Cleland:

In its meeting of 19 May, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for a new visitor center at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy. The Commission expressed appreciation for the effort to respect the cemetery's existing design character and approved the concept proposal with the following comments.

The Commission members noted the visual strength of the cemetery's existing wall and gate alongside the urban setting, with Piazzale Kennedy serving as a transitional space between the adjacent road and the main entrance. While supporting the intention to define the plaza more clearly as distinct from the adjacent roadway, they expressed concern that the proposed use of bollards would suggest the unfortunate appearance of a security barrier; they recommended additional study of other design solutions for defining this area, such as by using trees. In addition, the Commission members requested that the bus parking area inside the gates be screened from view as much as possible, especially when seen from within the cemetery.

The Commission looks forward to the next submission for this project. As always, the staff is available to assist you with the next submission.

Sincerely,

/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary

Hon. Max Cleland, Secretary
American Battle Monuments Commission
Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500
2300 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201-3367

cc: Ottavio Di Blasi, Ottavio Di Blasi & Partners
Harry Robinson, TRG Consulting Global