Letter
Dear Ms. Mitten:
During its meeting of 25 January 2005, the Commission reviewed the preliminary concept design for the proposed Anacostia Gateway Government Center, which will become the new headquarters for the District of Columbia’s Department of Transportation. The members were greatly pleased with the District’s choice of siting this new facility in Anacostia and with the potential economic revitalization that this project will bring to the surrounding community. During the review there were several items noted in the design of the building that raised questions and perhaps warrant additional study.
One of these items was the geometry of the curved front of the building. If the idea that the arc of the facade responds to the shape of a new traffic circle to be built at the end of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, where the avenue joins the ramp from the 11th Street Bridge, then the geometry that determines the form of this curved facade should be drawn from the diameter of the new traffic circle and radiant from its center point. If this organizing premise were adopted then the radiant geometry could be used to develop the configuration of not only the facade but extended into the plan of the building to shape the main entrance way and to create a connection to the central atrium through the building.
The members also recommended centering the main entrance in this curved portion of the south facade. This new geometry could also be used to eliminate the awkward angle of the southeastern corner of the main building. It was felt the building’s corner should not be clipped or truncated as shown but be allowed to fully fill the corner to the street and alley edge.
The Commission looks forward to further review of this project and recommends submission of a revised concept that responds to the concerns expressed above.
Our next meeting is scheduled for the 17th of March, with a submission deadline on the 3rd of March. As always, the staff is available should you require additional guidance.
Sincerely,
/s/Frederick J. Lindstrom
Acting Secretary
Ms. Carol J. Mitten
Director, Office of Property Management
Government of the District of Columbia
441 4th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
cc: Joseph Wolfe, District of Columbia Office of Property Management
Stephen Alicandro, HEERY