Letter
Dear Mr. Page:
During its meeting of 20 February, the Commission reviewed a concept design for a new mixed use building for the Newseum to be located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (Lot 826, Square 49l/SL 03-019), and the Commission voted to "approve the concept of this design with an ultimate height limit of the third bar to 134 feet." The Commission supports the considerable effort made to reduce the effect of the loading dock on the pedestrian experience, in addition to the continued investigation of the transparency of the overall structure and the design of the First Amendment plaque. The proposed seven foot set-back of the third "bar" from the Canadian Embassy is an appropriate modification to mitigate some of the building's apparent height.
This innovative building, housing an exciting new museum and the Freedom Forum's World Center, will undoubtedly have a dramatic and positive presence on the Avenue and will give the city an amenity with many benefits. The Commission looks forward to continued review of this project. As always, the staff is available should you or the design team have questions or need additional guidance.
Sincerely,
/s/ Harry G. Robinson III
Harry G. Robinson III
Chairman
Max Page
Deputy Director and Vice President Newseum
The Freedom Forum World Center 1101 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22209
cc: James Polshek, Polshek Partnership Architects
Edward M. Rogers, Nixon Peabody LLP
Judith H. Renfrew, CarrAmerica
Stephen J. Kuhn, CarrAmerica