Letter
Dear Mr. Hunter:
In its public meeting of 20 February conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts approved, based on its prior review of the submission materials, a concept submission for the renovation of and additions to Drew Elementary School, located at 5600 Eads Street, NE. The Commission delegated the review of the final design to the staff, providing the following comments.
In the approval action, the Commission members encouraged greater design consistency between the new additions and the existing building, particularly regarding the window details and the selection of materials. In addition, they recommended developing a commemorative program honoring the important work of the school’s namesake, surgeon Charles R. Drew (1901–50), a native Washingtonian who was the first African American to earn a Doctor of Science in Medicine and who became a pioneer in the development of blood storage and preservation; Drew was also the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank.
Please continue consulting on the development of the design 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: Adam McGraw, Studio MB
John Marcolin, Lee & Associates
Renee Pean, D.C. Public Schools