Letter
Dear Mr. Falcicchio:
In its public meeting of 21 April conducted by videoconference, the Commission
of Fine Arts reviewed a final design submission for a new hospital building, parking garage, and associated landscape to be located on Parcel 2 along Pecan Street on the St. Elizabeths East Campus. The Commission approved the proposal, subject to the resolution of several landscape design issues, and delegated the completion of the final approval process to the staff.
The Commission members expressed appreciation for the thorough presentation and for the responsiveness to their previous comments on the design of the hospital building and garage. They endorsed the proposal to extend the public park along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue; however, they suggested elongating and making less symmetrical some of the topographic mounds within the park landscape. Noting that perennials can help reduce maintenance needs, they recommended planting these instead of grass on slopes to increase soil stabilization and to eliminate the need for mowing. While they supported the use of flowering plants in the garden proposed around the cafeteria’s outdoor terrace, they cautioned that some plants may attract insects that present a risk to those with severe allergies or compromised immune systems. In addition, they questioned the proposed design of the security fence around this terrace, commenting that although its transparency is desirable, its appearance should be more welcoming in character.
The Commission looks forward to completion of this important addition to the community. For resolution of the remaining details, please consult with the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
John Falcicchio
Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 317
Washington, DC 20004
cc: William Hellmuth, HOK
Don Hoover, Oculus