Letter
Dear Mr. Sarles:
In its meeting of 19 September, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a revised concept design for alterations to the First Street entrance to the Union Station Metro station, submitted by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The Commission approved the submission with several comments regarding the development of the design and delegated the final review of the project to the Commission staff.
In their discussion, the Commission members noted the improvement of the design and its responsiveness to their earlier advice to create a visible public entrance within the complex context of Union Station and First Street, NE. As the final design is developed, they recommended careful study of the project details, particularly in maximizing the depth of the stair treads while maintaining rain protection, and refining how the granite cladding of the stair and ramp structure meets the plane of the adjacent sidewalk. Please coordinate with the staff for the delegated review of the final plans in order to complete the review of the project.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Richard Sarles
General Manager and Chief Executive Officer
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
600 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
cc: Ivo Karadimov, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Beverly Swaim–Staley, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation
William Gallagher, KGP Design Studio