Letter
Dear Mr. Hunter:
In its public meeting of 20 February conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for the renovation of and additions to the John Burroughs Elementary School, located at 1820 Monroe Street, NE. Delegating the review of the final design to the staff, the Commission approved the submission and provided the following comments.
The Commission members expressed strong support for the design, which comprises several alterations to this historic 1920s Collegiate Gothic-style building, including demolishing the 1959 and 2013 additions and replacing them with a new two-story wing; enclosing the large central courtyard; and relocating the main entrance from the south to the north side of the original school block. They commended the project for its incorporation of sustainable design strategies, and they suggested considering the addition of trees to the landscape design. They suggested further study of the brick cladding proposed for the two-story addition to ensure its compatibility with the brick of the historic school building.
Please consult on the delegated final review with the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Delano Hunter, Director
D.C. Department of General Services
3924 Minnesota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20019
cc: Chris Ambridge, Quinn Evans
Melissa Pegram, D.C. Public Schools