The meeting was convened by videoconference at 9:00 a.m.
Members participating:
Hon. Billie Tsien, Chair
Hon. Hazel Ruth Edwards, Vice Chair
Hon. Bruce Redman Becker
Hon. Peter Cook
Hon. Lisa Delplace
Hon. William J. Lenihan
Hon. Justin Garrett Moore
Staff present:
Thomas E. Luebke, Secretary
Sarah Batcheler, Assistant Secretary
Christopher Berger
Mary Catherine Bogard
Kay Fanning
Daniel Fox
Carlton Hart
Vivian Lee
Tony Simon
I. ADMINISTRATION
A. Approval of the minutes of the 18 July meeting. Secretary Luebke reported that the minutes of the July meeting were circulated to the Commission members in advance. Upon a motion by Mr. Moore with second by Dr. Edwards, the Commission approved the minutes. Mr. Luebke said the document will be available to the public on the Commission’s website as the official record of the meeting.
B. Dates of next meetings. Secretary Luebke presented the dates for upcoming Commission meetings, as previously published: 17 October 2024, 21 November 2024, and 16 January 2025. He noted that no Commission meeting is scheduled in December.
C. Report on the approval of objects proposed for acquisition by the Freer Gallery of Art. Secretary Luebke reported Chair Tsien’s approval of the Smithsonian Institution’s proposed purchase of three objects for the permanent collection of the Freer Gallery of Art, a part of the National Museum of Asian Art. All three artworks are ceremonial silk textiles known as “patola,” produced in Gujarat, India, in the late 17th to early 18th century using the “double-ikat” dyeing method; they were exported to Indonesia in exchange for Indonesian resources such as spices. One of the textiles depicts elephants on a royal hunt; the other two have geometric patterns. He said the museum staff has provided extensive research and beautiful images in support of the proposed acquisition; in the future, with a return to in-person meetings, the Commission may resume its past practice of visiting the Freer to inspect the artworks.
D. Introduction of new staff member. Secretary Luebke introduced Christopher Berger, who has joined the Commission staff as a historic preservation specialist to work on the Old Georgetown Act submissions. He summarized Mr. Berger’s professional experience with local government, most recently with the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Office in Maryland. Mr. Berger holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in historic preservation, both from the University of Florida; he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners; and he currently serves on the boards of the American Planning Association’s local chapter and of the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions. Chair Tsien joined in welcoming Mr. Berger to the staff.
II. SUBMISSIONS AND REVIEWS
A. Appendices. Secretary Luebke introduced the three appendices for Commission action. Drafts of the appendices had been circulated to the Commission members in advance of the meeting. He noted that the appendices typically include the majority of the cases submitted for the Commission’s review.
Appendix I – Government Submissions Consent Calendar: Mr. Hart said the appendix includes sixteen projects; the only change to the draft consent calendar is to update the recommendation for signage for an incoming grocery store tenant within a building owned by the University of the District of Columbia, responding to the supplemental information that has been provided. Upon a motion by Mr. Moore with second by Mr. Cook, the Commission approved the revised Government Submissions Consent Calendar.
Appendix II – Shipstead-Luce Act Submissions: Ms. Lee said the appendix has 25 projects. Four cases listed on the draft appendix with unfavorable recommendations have been removed and are being held open for consideration in a future month (case numbers SL 24-157, 24-172, 24-175, and 24-184). One case has been added (SL 24-185) to note that it is not within the Shipstead-Luce Act jurisdiction. The recommendations for twelve projects are subject to further coordination with the applicants, and she requested authorization to finalize these recommendations when the outstanding issues are resolved. Upon a motion by Mr. Lenihan with second by Mr. Becker, the Commission approved the revised Shipstead-Luce Act Appendix.
Appendix III – Old Georgetown Act Submissions: Ms. Bogard said the appendix has 42 projects. The only change to the draft appendix is to remove one case and hold it open for consideration in a future month (case number OG 24-288); the project is a wayfinding program at Georgetown University, and it was initially listed with an unfavorable recommendation. Upon a motion by Ms. Delplace with second by Dr. Edwards, the Commission approved the revised Old Georgetown Act Appendix. Secretary Luebke noted that the appendix results from the intensive review process by the Old Georgetown Board at its monthly meetings.
At this point, the Commission departed from the order of the agenda to consider items II.E and II.F. Secretary Luebke said that the Commission had identified these submissions as ones that could be approved without a presentation.
E. D.C. Department of General Services
CFA 19/SEP/24-5, MacArthur High School, 4530 MacArthur Boulevard, NW. Renovations and additions to building and landscape. Final. (Previous: CFA 21/MAR/24-4)
Secretary Luebke said the submission responds to the Commission’s comments from the previous review in March 2024. Chair Tsien agreed that the updated design is very responsive. Upon a motion by Mr. Cook with second by Mr. Moore, the Commission approved the final design.
F. D.C. Department of Buildings—Shipstead-Luce Act
SL 24-166, Portals I, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW. Renovations and additions to existing 8-story office building for residential use. Revised concept. (Previous: SL 22-162, September 2022)
Secretary Luebke said the submission responds to the Commission’s comments from the initial concept review in September 2022. He noted that further design development will be needed for the retail frontage, signage, landscape, lighting, building section details, and materials. Upon a motion by Mr. Becker with second by Dr. Edwards, the Commission approved the revised concept; Ms. Delplace recused herself from the vote.
The Commission returned to the order of the agenda with item II.B.1.
B. National Park Service
1. CFA 19/SEP/24-1, Fallen Journalists Memorial, Maryland and Independence Avenues at 3rd Street, SW (Reservation 201). Design for a new memorial. Concept.
Secretary Luebke introduced the proposed concept design for the Fallen Journalists Memorial, submitted by the National Park Service (NPS) on behalf of the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation. In 2020, Congress authorized the foundation to establish a memorial on federal land to commemorate America’s commitment to a free press by honoring journalists who have been killed in the course of their professional duties. The approved site, located near the National Museum of the American Indian, is the small triangular park bounded by Maryland and Independence Avenues and 3rd Street, SW. He said that at its review of the site selection in April 2023, the Commission had supported the project team’s preference for this location, citing its strong visual relationship to the dome of the U.S. Capitol with the potential to symbolize the relationship between Congress and a free press. The Commission had noted that the site presents challenges, including the limited footprint; proximity to the very strong architecture of the National Museum of the American Indian; and the presence of mature canopy trees, which obscure the view to the Capitol and may need to be retained and protected. The Commission had expressed strong support for a landscape approach to the memorial’s design and emphasized the importance of the public experience of the memorial.
Mr. Luebke said the concept design is based on the winning competition entry by John Ronan Architects, selected from among 118 entries submitted by invited architects, designers, and artists. The conceptual core of this design is an abstract representation of dualities inherent in investigative journalism—such as opacity versus transparency, distortion versus clarity, and darkness versus light—which would be conveyed through the use of large blocks of borosilicate glass. He noted that the concept design was presented earlier in the month to the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, which supported the design with comments for further development. He asked Tammy Stidham, associate regional director for lands and planning with the National Capital Region of the NPS, to begin the presentation.
Ms. Stidham said the Fallen Journalists Memorial was authorized in December 2020; pursuant to the Commemorative Works Act, subsequent legislation in December 2022 allows the memorial to be located in Area 1 based on a determination that its subject matter is of preeminent historical and lasting significance to the United States. She noted that the Fallen Journalists Memorial will join other iconic memorials under the perpetual care and stewardship of the NPS. To continue the presentation, she introduced Barbara Cochran, president of the sponsoring foundation; John Ronan of John Ronan Architects; and Michael Boucher of Michael Boucher Landscape Architecture.
Ms. Cochran said that Mr. Ronan’s beautiful and creative design brilliantly captures the essence of what the memorial could be, effectively commemorating America’s commitment to freedom of the press while honoring those who died in service to that cause. She asked Mr. Ronan to present the concept design.
Mr. Ronan said that journalists shed light on subjects that are obscured in darkness, and they clarify factual distortions by explaining what is difficult to comprehend and making clear what is opaque. Accordingly, this design proposes that a memorial dedicated to journalists should engage with these themes of transparency, clarity, and light. The project team began by studying ice cubes, which can be transparent, distorted, or opaque. This led to the decision to use cast glass as the material for the memorial; each piece of cast glass would slightly differ from the others, representing the unique personal story of each journalist commemorated. He said the team knows this memorial needs to be unique and unconventional in order to stand out from all the others in Washington.
Mr. Ronan addressed several questions that have been raised in meetings with the Commission staff. He described the qualities of the proposed borosilicate glass, invented in the 1880s as a thermal shock-resistant glass. It is the strongest glass produced, lasting essentially forever; no glass bottle ever made has come close to decomposing, and scientists estimate that decomposition would require more than 4,000 years. The glass does not become too hot to touch; most heat energy passes through glass, which is why car interiors heat up in parking lots and why thermometers are made of glass. He summarized its properties: hardness; resistance to scratching; resistance to thermal expansion and shock, allowing it to undergo wide temperature extremes without cracking; and chemical stability along with optical clarity, making it ideal for applications such as laboratory glassware, kitchen cookware, and optical lenses.
Mr. Ronan presented a table summarizing the properties of borosilicate glass in comparison with other materials commonly used for memorials in Washington, including concrete, steel, marble, and granite. The glass compares favorably to these traditional materials in density, compressive strength, heat gain and conductance, and stability when undergoing temperature change.
Mr. Ronan said the memorial is proposed to use glass bars that would be connected by simply being stacked and interlocked. Silicon pads may be used to provide cushioning between them; periodic cleanings can use silicon pads and tap water to supplement the natural cleaning effect of rainwater. The glass elements would be resistant to scratches and would not stain; graffiti can be easily removed without special tools or chemicals.
Mr. Ronan said the design is a composition of linear transparent glass bars arranged on the site in a seemingly accidental manner, which at the heart of the site would aggregate to form a pure cylindrical space—the Remembrance Hall—to symbolize how ostensibly disconnected facts coalesce to express a journalist’s story. He intends the memorial to be a place a visitor can experience more as space than as object, with a journey of discovery that unfolds slowly, space by space, like a story told by a journalist. The design would cast the visitor in the role of investigate journalist, pursuing truth wherever it leads.
Mr. Ronan presented the design in relation to the site, which he described as an island amid the power expressed by the institutional and governmental buildings that surround it. He said the memorial design has no front or back; it would be possible to enter it from multiple sides, and all routes would lead to the circular Remembrance Hall at the center, suggesting there are many paths to the truth and none of them are linear. This would not be a memorial that can be understood at a single glance; it would need to be explored and would appear strange and mysterious in its urban setting, intriguing and inviting. He said that as visitors are drawn into the memorial, the glass elements would increase in number and density, like the facts in a journalist’s notebook. At night, the glass elements would be uplit, representing a beacon of truth within the urban environment, to symbolize the role journalists play in shedding light on conditions obscured in darkness.
Mr. Ronan then illustrated the design with a physical model, which uses acrylic bars to represent the glass elements, and he presented a site analysis to discuss thematic relationships. He said the site’s location on Independence Avenue within view of the Capitol expresses the independence of a free press from power. The two closest memorials are those commemorating President Dwight D. Eisenhower and American Veterans Disabled for Life. Buildings adjacent to the site include the National Museum of the American Indian to the north, the U.S. Botanic Garden to the east, and the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building to the south, which houses the Voice of America. He noted that the adjacent segment of Maryland Avenue on the north could potentially be temporarily closed to traffic to accommodate special events at the Fallen Journalists Memorial.
Mr. Boucher presented the landscape design. The proposal is to install a grove of 36 honey locust trees to create a canopy over the site. The trees would cool the space for the comfort of visitors while allowing dappled light to fall on and activate the glass elements. The grove would be recognizable from a distance as a unified form, similar to the way a building on the site would be recognizable. The grove would distinguish the site as a unique place within its surroundings and would also distinguish it from other memorials in the area.
Mr. Ronan then presented additional details of the concept design. The memorial would be composed of three superimposed systems: a ground plane of light-colored granite, the cast glass forms, and the grove of trees. The ground plane would be entirely flat and accessible throughout. The glass elements would be raised approximately four inches above the paving to allow stormwater to flow across the site and to help with maintenance of the lighting.
Mr. Ronan said that the first layer of cast-glass elements would reach a height of nineteen inches, or bench height, to provide seating. The arrangement of these elements would have a seemingly random disorder representing conditions that a journalist first encounters on reporting a story. The glass elements would be stacked in tiers, and they would gradually aggregate to form the pure circle of the Remembrance Hall space at the center. The grove of trees would be arrayed in linear rows parallel to Independence Avenue to the south, suggesting the hidden patterns journalists uncover in their work. Existing trees on the site’s east side would be removed to allow less obstructed views of the Capitol dome from the central space, strengthening the visual analogy of the reciprocal relationship between political power and the free press. The glass elements would be lit at night, and the lighting would also identify the path leading to the Remembrance Hall.
Mr. Ronan noted that the foundation’s goals for the project are to agitate, inspire, and commemorate, and so the design includes three room-like open spaces for each of these functions. A classroom space at the northeast would be for visiting student groups; a press room space on Independence Avenue would provide an area where reporters can speak against the backdrop of the memorial and the Capitol dome; and the larger Remembrance Hall would be the main destination and the commemorative space. He indicated the shaded areas with seating on the glass elements, which he said would provide comfortable and inspiring spaces for visitors.
Mr. Ronan described the Remembrance Hall space in more detail. He said visitors would be drawn to the circular glass “lens” in the center of this space, through which visitors would see the text of the First Amendment laser-etched onto reflective steel; when visitors look down to read it, they would see their own reflection—implying that every citizen’s role in protecting the freedom of the press is part of honoring the journalists commemorated here. The etched words would appear to be floating on the lens, which would be perfectly circular to symbolize the idea of objective truth. The central space would be protected by horizontally stacked glass elements representing the fallen journalists who protected the truth. The text would be oriented to the Capitol dome so that visitors could raise their eyes and see the dome in the distance, making the intuitive connection between power and the role played in a democracy by a free press.
Mr. Ronan said visitors would be provided with additional information to be accessed through a phone app. The solid glass walls would block the visual and auditory noise of the surroundings, symbolizing the way journalists filter out the distracting noise of false information. He presented a diagram showing how the glass elements would be stacked. He described the design’s sustainability features, which would include recycled glass in the elements and their foundations; high-efficiency LED lighting; light-colored granite to reduce the heat island effect; trees to improve the microclimate, increase human comfort, and support wildlife habitat; and stormwater retention beneath the paved plaza.
Mr. Ronan said the sponsoring foundation would provide programming for the site, such as hosting ceremonies and curricular events for high school students, organizing volunteers as on-site docents, providing space for news reporting, and professional cleaning and maintenance needs. At night, the uplighting would cast a soft glow on the walls of the Remembrance Hall, creating an atmosphere conducive to quiet reflection.
Chair Tsien thanked Mr. Ronan for what she called a beautiful presentation. She asked the Commission members for their questions and comments.
Mr. Becker described the proposal as a beautiful, poetic, and elegant design. He suggested studying the acoustics, observing that hard surfaces arranged in a circle may have acoustical implications for a gathering space. Mr. Ronan responded that an acoustics study has been done, as referenced in the appendix to the submission materials. He said the project team has studied the angles, stacking, openness, and acoustical porosity of the glass elements, particularly of those forming the Remembrance Hall, with consideration of how to create more acoustical diffusion by changing the angles and disposition of the elements.
Mr. Moore thanked Mr. Ronan for the presentation. He agreed that the compelling design would bring a new language to Washington’s commemorative landscape, and it will honor a fundamental set of considerations that are part of American society—freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the important work of journalists. He provided several observations about the proposed treatment of the site’s perimeter. He acknowledged the great care and resolution demonstrated in the site design within the memorial—the clear circulation route, the relationship of this route to the seating, and the use of stacked elements to shape space. However, the visitor experience does not seem as clear for moving from the street or curb, through the perimeter area, and into the memorial; the relationships between the different parts of the memorial and the larger space are also not clear. For example, he expressed concern that some of the site drawings seem to show trees set in the middle of the sidewalk paths, and people occupying the seating areas might create conflicts with some of the circulation routes. He asked for further consideration of pedestrian routes through the perimeter area, including the location of tree pits within the sidewalk paving.
Mr. Ronan responded that the perimeter area has been carefully studied. The intent is to keep the pedestrian path open on the perimeter; there would be no glass elements within the pedestrian sidewalk zone. All trees would be placed within an imaginary boundary, roughly triangular, that defines the memorial site; everything between this line and the curb is under D.C. jurisdiction. He added that although the site drawings may give the appearance that trees are located within the sidewalk zone, the new trees would align as closely as possible with the existing street trees along Independence Avenue to create continuity for this visual wall along the avenue.
Mr. Ronan also described the proposed design for the ground plane in greater detail, noting that the granite plaza would be more like a roof than a surface paving. The intent is for the surface to be completely level, supported beneath on pedestals, so that the height between the surface of the pavers and the bottom of the first layer of glass would be consistent across the entire site. The surface under the pedestals would be sloped, and the joints between the pavers would be open so that water can flow into the space below the paving, similar to the way water flows over a roof. Openings in the pattern of pavers would accommodate the trees, and these would inform the jointing between pavers; the visual idea is that the trunks would disappear into these holes, and visitors would not see where the tree trunks engage with the ground below. He added that these details are still being studied.
Mr. Moore said he appreciates this additional information on the alignment of the trees; he emphasized that his concern is about urban scale and legibility in design, and about how a person would enter the site from the street or crosswalk and move through it. He expressed confidence that the project team will be able to resolve these issues as the design is developed.
Mr. Cook said he agrees that the proposal is beautiful, and he observed that the comments and questions suggest overall support for the concept design. He asked if the dimensions of the glass bars have been determined and if all bars would have the same dimensions. Mr. Ronan responded that the bars are shown as fifteen inches square in section and fourteen feet long. The lower bars would be raised four inches above the ground, resulting in their top surface being nineteen inches above the paving; this height, suitable for seating, has been a critical dimension for the design. The length of fourteen feet was arrived at through discussions with glass fabricators about their capabilities; bars longer than fourteen feet become very difficult to fabricate, and fourteen feet is a sufficient length to form seven- to eight-foot-long lintels above the thresholds to the Remembrance Hall; the desired clearance height for these lintels has also been coordinated with the fifteen-inch module of the stacked bars. He said the height and width of other layers is less critical, and some dimensions may be varied to reduce the weight of the structure and to make the memorial more transparent as it rises.
Mr. Cook commended the design team’s study of ice and transparency. Observing that the renderings seem to show a greenish hue to the bars, he asked whether the glass would be clear or tinted. Mr. Ronan responded that the glass should not be entirely clear because otherwise the memorial may visually disappear within its urban environment and lose its impact. As the glass gets thicker, it will become more visible. He noted that a higher iron content makes glass appear greener; the glass for the memorial is intended to be clear but with a slight tint, which he said is exaggerated in the renderings for legibility. Three finishes would be used for the glass: the top surfaces would be polished, like the lens at the center of the central Remembrance Hall; most of the surfaces would have a mold-struck finish, resembling the peel of an orange, which would provide traction and create a kind of visual distortion; and the ends would be sandblasted. The underside of the lowest layers of bas above the lighting would also be sandblasted in order to diffuse the light rising up into the stacked bars.
Ms. Delplace agreed in expressing appreciation for an informative presentation of a wonderful design and a great composition. Noting that the site currently has some mature trees, she asked about the reasoning for the proposal to remove them. Mr. Ronan responded that several of the existing trees are in very poor condition or are dying. For the intent to pave the ground plane, he noted that the existing site does not have grass verges along its edges; other nearby sites have large plazas or paving that extends to the curb, including the Department of Health and Human Services building to the southeast and the Cohen building to the south. He said these conditions have informed the memorial’s site design. Few of the existing trees would survive the construction of the memorial, and the proposal is therefore to plant 36 new trees as an appropriate compensation for their loss. Mr. Boucher added that the project team may need to clarify the question of protected heritage trees on the site. He said excavation would be required for construction of the new plaza, and for providing either soil cells or entirely new soil beneath the plaza to accommodate the proposed new trees; this work may require the removal of all existing trees. He agreed that the project team needs to address the question of whether any of the trees at the perimeter of the site could be retained.
Noting that some of the existing trees are in poor condition and will be removed, Ms. Delplace questioned the selection of honey locust for the new trees, which she said would never achieve the same stature as the existing trees. She acknowledged that landscape architects and designers love honey locusts, but they are not canopy trees; in addition, their wood is weak, they lose branches, and they are subject to die-off. She encouraged consideration of other tree species that possess the same desired characteristics, particularly since the design proposes planting a monoculture. She commented that details are critical to creating a beautiful, simple, and elegant design; she therefore encouraged consideration of details such as how the trees would affect the granite pavement as they grow, including how the increasing trunk widths would be accommodated. She urged the project team to ask these questions at this early stage in design development, observing that the ground plane where the vertical tree trunks meet the horizontal plaza will be critically important.
Mr. Ronan agreed with these comments. He said the project team is not committed to the honey locust and will continue to consider other species, but the honey locust has the desired qualities: a shade tree that is not so dense that it blocks sunlight, but allows light to come through the canopy and activate the glass elements. He said the tree canopy should also provide shade for human comfort. Accommodating the growth of the tree trunks within the stone paving remains to be determined.
Chair Tsien summarized that all of the Commission members found the presentation inspiring, and this memorial could set a benchmark for future memorials. She observed that Washington seems to have numerous memorials that often do not appear welcoming; however, this proposed design appears both powerful and welcoming, a place that people will want to visit rather than simply something to gaze at. She expressed confidence in the project team’s ability to design the details beautifully.
Secretary Luebke observed that memorials—as permanent structures that speak to a collective experience—are often the kind of project that people care about most, and are a primary category of projects for the Commission’s review. He noted that the staff will participate in additional consultation meetings before the NPS returns with a final design, and the staff will coordinate with the NPS to decide on topics for special review such as inscriptions, lighting, and landscape details. He suggested that the Commission could take an action to approve the concept, with the understanding that further design development review will be needed for a project of this significance and complexity.
Chair Tsien suggested a consensus to approve the concept design for the Fallen Journalists Memorial. Upon a motion by Mr. Becker with second by Mr. Moore, the Commission adopted this action.
2. CFA 19/SEP/24-2, National Mall, Various locations between 4th and 23rd Streets. Twelve new and three replacement comfort stations.
Concept. Secretary Luebke introduced the concept design for twelve new and three replacement comfort stations to be located on the National Mall—a 309-acre area extending west from the U.S. Capitol to the Potomac River and encompassing the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. The 2010 National Mall Plan and supporting environmental documents led to the development in 2021 of a comfort station development plan, which provided guidance and established a framework for these new stations while respecting the essential sanctity of the Mall’s resources and public use.
Mr. Luebke noted that the nine existing public comfort stations are all located west of 15th Street, with various sizes, ages, and designs including many dating from the Mission 66 era of National Park Service (NPS) design in the 1960s. None of the existing comfort stations is located east of 15th Street, an area of the Mall where visitors have traditionally relied on the Smithsonian museums for these facilities; but with increasing security issues for these museums, visitor access to the museums’ restroom facilities has become more difficult. The new proposal will address visitor needs by providing new comfort stations while respecting the importance of the Mall as a preeminent civic space. He noted that the submitted concept is intended to establish an adaptable framework that addresses various issues, such as some facilities incorporating both restrooms and food service as well as an adequate number of accessible and equitable facilities for times of high visitation. The presentation provides a case-study approach to demonstrate how a consistent and recognizable style can be adaptable for multiple locations and conditions.
Mr. Luebke asked Tammy Stidham, associate regional director for lands and planning with the National Capital Region of the NPS, to begin the presentation. Ms. Stidham said the planning for improvements began with the 2010 National Mall Plan, which was the framework that led to the more detailed site development planning that is now submitted for the Commission’s review. To continue the presentation, she introduced Kate Scurlock of GWWO Architects and landscape architect David Rubin of David Rubin Land Collective.
Mr. Rubin described the project as a long-term effort to improve visitor comfort and experience on the Mall. The proposal includes both new and replacement facilities with restrooms and sometimes food kiosks, designed for placement within three different landscape typologies: the East Mall, the memorial core, and the Tidal Basin area. He said the project team has focused on an empathetic approach to design by understanding people’s predictable behavior and focusing on the corporal necessities of a large visiting population. The design intent is to provide cues to let people know that they will see a comfort station regularly on the Mall, and that these buildings can be easily identified within the landscape. He presented an analysis that overlays visitation numbers on a map of existing NPS and Smithsonian restroom and food service facilities, illustrating the areas of need. He introduced Ms. Scurlock to present the proposed concept designs.
Ms. Scurlock presented an analysis of existing support buildings on the Mall, noting that many of the comfort stations follow prototypical designs although some, such as the Washington Monument Lodge, are unique buildings. She said a goal of the project is for the future comfort stations to be recognizable across the Mall, while also being flexible enough to adapt to unique site constraints and program requirements. She then presented the factors that the project team has considered in designing these buildings: impact to cultural landscape; visitor experience; public safety and security; flexibility; consistent and identifiable design; ease of maintenance; appreciation of cultural resources; and accessibility.
Ms. Scurlock indicated the fifteen locations that have been identified for new comfort stations; six of these would contain only restrooms, and the others would have a combination of restrooms and food service. The proposed buildings would range from 700 square feet to more than 2,000 square feet to address the capacity needs at each site; the building designs would incorporate similar elements while being adapted to the site characteristics. She noted that only single-user, non-gendered restrooms are proposed; the reasons for this choice include public health best practices, inclusivity, and maximizing flexibility for capacity. As part of the analysis, the project team has studied multiple options for the configuration of the restrooms, including an outward-facing layout and an interior orientation toward breezeways, as well as configurations with individual or shared sinks. The outward-facing layout, while convenient for maintenance and operations, was ruled out because it lacks user privacy and would not be appropriate for the National Mall. The selected approach uses a combination of the two inward-facing breezeway layouts that the project team believes would provide the best safety and security; this design approach allows for flexibility in the configuration of sinks.
Ms. Scurlock then presented three massing options for organizing the combination of restroom and food services buildings: attached, semi-attached, and detached. She said the project team has chosen the attached and detached options to provide the most flexibility in adapting to the different site conditions.
Ms. Scurlock said the selection of exterior materials is an important consideration, affecting the relationship of each building to its context as well as the recognizability of the buildings for the visiting public. She presented three options for the material palette, noting the project team’s preference for the “Contextual/Secondary” option that draws inspiration from the existing context of NPS and visitor service buildings. She emphasized that the selected approach should not compete with the formal elements of the Mall’s major features.
Ms. Scurlock said the project team used these alternatives to develop case studies at four locations: southeast of the Lincoln Memorial; at Constitution Gardens; a site on the east side of the Mall; and at Ash Woods.
At the first case study site, Lincoln Memorial South, the existing food kiosk would be demolished and replaced with a comfort station that has both restrooms and food service. This site was chosen as a case study because it is within a very sensitive context, and it has the highest number of visitors. The proposed design uses a detached arrangement to break down the scale of the overall massing and reduce the visual impact; the two volumes of the food kiosk and the restrooms would define an outdoor space that would help in managing the queueing for both programs. She said the configuration would have one primary access point, and the solution of the detached arrangement assists in defining an outdoor room that receives visitors from the sidewalk.
Ms. Scurlock then presented the design for a new comfort station at the Constitution Gardens West site, which would allow for removal of a nearby restroom building and a food kiosk. She noted that the existing restroom structure is located on the flood protection levee, which is not desirable; the proposed new location west of the pond would use the topography to minimize the visual impact and perceived scale. The new comfort station would have an attached arrangement and would be aligned with the existing path system, with a view toward the pond.
Ms. Scurlock said the case study location for the East Mall would be near the National Museum of American History; this location is similar to the other three East Mall sites, at a very sensitive area within the Mall’s panels of elm trees. She said this comfort station would be much smaller than at the Constitution Gardens site, and the detached configuration is proposed to reduce the visual impact.
Ms. Scurlock presented the last case study site at Ash Woods, located near the U.S. Park Police stables; it would be a restroom-only location, replacing the existing restroom building. She said the design is consistent with the restroom components of the other comfort stations to ensure that this building would appear familiar and recognizable. Screening elements would be used to hide the building’s utility equipment.
Ms. Scurlock concluded by emphasizing that the proposed design framework could be adapted to the unique constraints and program requirements for each of the fifteen sites, while also being contextual, consistent, and identifiable on the National Mall.
Chair Tsien thanked the team for the thorough presentation, and she invited questions and comments from the Commission members. Mr. Becker offered his praise for the beautifully considered concept with a nice palette and excellent planning. He asked if consideration was given to incorporating rooftop solar panels in order to make these structures completely energy self-sufficient, and possibly including an architectural expression of the rooftop elements. Ms. Scurlock responded that discussions about rooftop solar panels are ongoing; a goal for the project is to make the structures a model for sustainable development, and possibly to incorporate interpretive elements to educate the public. She added that architectural expression of the solar panels has not been discussed.
Mr. Moore also commended the project team on the design, and he emphasized the importance of inclusivity in the design of the restroom facilities. He expressed interest in how these facilities would be perceived and used in all hours, including at night, commenting that the concern for creating inclusive, safe, and comfortable spaces should also extend into the design of lighting and any other types of security measures.
Ms. Delplace said the project team has provided a thoughtful presentation and design, and she agreed that the nighttime use should be taken into consideration; many people walk the Mall at night, and these buildings should feel and be safe. As a frequent Mall visitor, she said that a common concern is where the next facility is located, and she said the work of this project is long overdue. She encouraged the applicant to incorporate sustainability and to select noble materials that will be long-lasting.
Mr. Cook asked whether the design team has studied the view of these new buildings from above, observing that they will be highly visible from various elevated locations. Mr. Rubin responded that the considerations include the extent of maintenance needs for the rooftops, and he noted that green roofs and solar panels would require some maintenance. He said that a prototype for this project is the pavilion at Franklin Park in downtown Washington, which was recently renovated with his firm’s involvement; the Franklin Park pavilion includes a green roof. He said that another consideration is whether to emphasize energy production with solar panels, or cooling and wildlife habitat with a green roof.
Mr. Rubin also responded to earlier comments from Mr. Moore and Ms. Delplace by noting that the project team is very interested in how human behavior is affected by the design, and how to make safe spaces where visitors can see very quickly into the buildings and understand an escape route if they feel threatened. Ms. Scurlock added that the project team has studied the possibility of pitched roofs to make the buildings more expressive; the conclusion from this exploration was to keep the roofline low for a minimal appearance that would be more respectful of the context.
Chair Tsien expressed a preference for horizontality in the proposed buildings, which she said gives them a stronger form that people will notice. For the East Mall case study, she suggested consideration of extending the canopy to connect the separate buildings, which would provide a covered, protected space that could incorporate lighting to extend its use into the night. She also emphasized the need for shade in the city during the hot summer. Mr. Lenihan commented that the project team should carefully consider the mechanical systems as the design is developed.
Chair Tsien commended the design and suggested a consensus to approve the comfort stations as a general concept with the comments provided. Upon a motion by Mr. Moore with second by Dr. Edwards, the Commission adopted this action; Mr. Lenihan recused himself from the vote.
C. D.C. Public Library
CFA 19/SEP/24-3, St. Elizabeths East Campus, Parcel 18, 1304 Alabama Avenue, SE. New Parklands-Turner/Congress Heights Library. Concept.
Secretary Luebke introduced the concept design for a new library building on a site currently used as a bus turnaround at the Congress Heights Metro station. The master plan for the St. Elizabeths East Campus identified this parcel as a bus transit hub, a use that would remain in a realigned configuration bordering the library on two sides. The site would be the location for a new building to replace the existing Parklands-Turner Library, which is located approximately half a mile to the east in a strip mall along Alabama Avenue.
Mr. Luebke said the proposal is for a new one-story building comprising two triangular wings connected by a central spine; the spine would serve as the library’s main entry and circulation space, with entrances at both the north and ends. One wing would contain the children’s library and the other would be for adults; each wing would have a small courtyard for reading and outdoor classes. The proposed exterior materials include brick and a glass curtainwall system. The flat existing site has sparse plantings and extensive paving for parking and bus service related to the Metro station. The proposed landscape design includes the removal of some existing paved areas and the addition of trees, shrubs, and groundcover plantings; an educational walkway loop focusing on local history is also proposed on the site. Extensive Metro infrastructure would remain, including bus loading areas with shelters, parking areas, escalator and elevator access to the below-grade rail station, and ventilation shafts; one large ventilation shaft is proposed to be accommodated within the new library building. He asked Jaspreet Pahwa, director of capital planning and construction with the D.C. Public Library, to begin the presentation.
Ms. Pahwa said the D.C. Public Library is making significant investments in construction, resulting in beautiful award-winning libraries. She described the 2020 master plan in which D.C. Public Library committed to delivering services more equitably across the city, recognizing that some of the smallest libraries have served primarily low-income communities. As part of this commitment, her agency has sought and received funding to construct a new full-service library of approximately 20,000 square feet in the Congress Heights community, replacing the current 5,000-square-foot Parklands-Turner Library. She said the proposed design has been developed in response to extensive community input; the library will feature unique services such as recording studios and a “library of things.” One of the design goals is to create a community sanctuary, with the library serving as a place of refuge where people can embrace biophilia in addition to connecting with the outdoors through natural light and views. This would become the library system’s first building with net-zero energy consumption, in alignment with the D.C. Public Library’s climate-forward commitment to visibly celebrate ecology and sustainability. She introduced architect Carl Knutson of Perkins & Will and landscape architect Brian Bolen of Parker Rodriguez to present the design.
Mr. Knutson described the existing conditions, which currently include a Metro bus loop with few trees and considerable below-grade infrastructure associated with the Congress Heights Metro station. He said the proposal would be the first pass-through building in the city’s library system by providing entry from the south and north, which will improve connectivity for the existing neighborhoods to the south and the emerging development on the St. Elizabeths East Campus. The proposal also provides some unique courtyard spaces within the library to enhance the overall experience for visitors. Hardscape and landscape features of the site design include a new urban plaza along Alabama Avenue and a landscape zone surrounding the building that would provide a more active streetscape character on the south and a more passive planted character on the north.
Mr. Bolen presented the site design in more detail, describing the proposal’s different landscape typologies: urban street frontage along Alabama Avenue and 13th Street; transit frontage along the north and east with Metro bus stops; and a larger green area being introduced to the northeast, planted in a natural style that predominantly includes ornamental grasses and perennials with some shrubs and trees. The proposal is to provide a biodiverse palette for year-round seasonal interest. The paving materials are being coordinated with the D.C. Department of Transportation as well as Metro; the design includes special paving at the approach to the library entrances, which could be tinted or stamped cast-in-place concrete or potentially precast unit pavers. Public seating areas would be provided in a few nodes around the site, and the project team is exploring the introduction of some interpretive nodes that would tell a story about the landscape and the history of the neighborhood. A small plaza is proposed in the southwest area of the site, and the project team is considering whether to relocate an existing piece of artwork along this urban frontage. He said the site design accommodates existing programmatic needs such as the kiss-and-ride area, which would be located along Alabama Avenue to allow for convenient access to the bus stops and the Metro station.
Mr. Knutson then described the massing and design approach for the building, which he described as a relatively straightforward one-story library. He said the project team wants to celebrate the legacy of this space and the neighborhoods that it supports by creating a unique cultural and civic amenity that will be visible along Alabama Avenue. The project team has also considered sustainability and explored the carbon footprint; the proposal includes a mass timber roof structure, which is celebrated as a design feature. The facades would include glass walls that allow people to see inside the reading rooms. The project’s sense of creating a place of refuge is reinforced with the design of the reading rooms and the outdoor spaces.
Mr. Knutson then described the building’s two entrances, with the main entrance facing south having a forecourt leading up from Alabama Avenue. Both entrances are angled to funnel visitors to the doors and into the building’s central spine, which would have an information desk and other support spaces. The wings flanking the spine would have separate reading rooms for children and adults, each with views to the landscape through the curtainwall facades. The proposed materials include perforated, textured metal panels; several types of glass with varying amounts of frit, transparency, and reflectivity; a concrete base; and exterior-grade wood at the entrance portals.
Chair Tsien thanked the project team for the thorough presentation, and she invited questions and comments from the Commission members. Ms. Delplace commended the choice to develop a library on this transit-oriented site, which will provide broad public access; and she commended the amount of landscape that the design would introduce on the site despite the constraints of the complex underground infrastructure associated with the Metro station. She encouraged the project team to include more canopy trees in the landscape to provide additional shade for the visitors using the outdoor spaces, in order to encourage people to stay longer and engage with each other.
Mr. Becker described the proposal as an attractive, simple design with admirable goals. Noting the energy-efficiency challenges of having large areas of glass in the facades, he suggested preparing an energy analysis to address how the project would meet the goal of net-zero energy consumption. Mr. Knutson said additional design refinements are underway to attain a 40 percent ratio of glass in the facades, which would allow the project to meet the energy-efficiency target; he added that the frit on the glass and the introduction of more canopy trees would further contribute to energy efficiency.
Dr. Edwards asked for additional information about pedestrian connections to and around the site. Mr. Knutson described the pedestrian movements to and through the building and to the adjacent Metro station, as well as the connections to the pedestrian network of the St. Elizabeths East Campus to the north and west. He also indicated the seven bus bays with shelters and seating, providing connections to other parts of the city.
Chair Tsien commended the project’s beautiful courtyards, which she described as gentle insertions into the library that she expects would be well used by the community. She added that the courtyards would provide another place of repose within the library.
Mr. Lenihan offered a motion to approve the concept design with the comments provided. Upon a second by Dr. Edwards, the Commission adopted this action; Mr. Cook recused himself from the vote.
D. University of the District of Columbia
CFA 19/SEP/24-4, University of the District of Columbia, campuses at Van Ness, Lamond-Riggs, and Old Congress Heights. New exterior graphics program. Concept.
Secretary Luebke introduced the exterior graphics program that is intended to establish a stronger sense of place and school spirit at the three campuses of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). He said that following the establishment and consolidation of UDC as a federal land grant university in the 1960s and 1970s, the main campus was constructed on part of the site formerly occupied by the National Bureau of Standards, in the Van Ness neighborhood along Washington’s Connecticut Avenue corridor; the campus was originally completed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. UDC also has a campus in the Lamond-Riggs neighborhood, in a complex formerly known as the Bertie Backus campus, which is the home of its community college; and a campus in Congress Heights, where UDC’s workforce development and lifelong learning programs are housed in a historic school building that dates from the 1890s and was renovated and expanded in 2019.
Mr. Luebke said the proposed exterior graphics program would be similar and coordinated for all three campuses. The five types of signs include building-mounted graphics, building-mounted banners, pole-mounted banners, waste-can graphics, and building identification. More than thirty new graphic elements would be installed at the Van Ness campus, while ten new graphic elements would be installed at the Lamond-Riggs campus and eight at the Old Congress Heights campus. He said the detail palette generally includes vinyl wraps, decals, and tension mesh; the scale would range from seven-inch-tall waste-can wraps to 85-foot-tall banners rising the full height of a building. The proposed color expresses the flame motif associated with the school’s firebird mascot, and the font is consistent with the university’s branding guidelines. He asked Javier Dussan, vice president for facilities and real estate management at UDC, to introduce the project.
Mr. Dussan said the initiative supports the goals of shaping and sharing the story of UDC, which is the only public university in the District of Columbia. The enhancements will also emphasize UDC’s presence in each community, instilling a strong sense of place and pride among students, staff, and the broader community. He said the proposed program follows the goals of the 2020–2029 main campus plan. It will express the flagship identity of the Van Ness campus as the primary site of the growing university, which should be recognized as a significant resource to the community, as well as its historic importance as the only urban land-grant public institution of higher education in the country, and as one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Mr. Dussan said the campus buildings should clearly reflect the university’s identity through coordinated iconography. At the Van Ness campus, UDC will continue to improve the appearance of the buildings, provide clear wayfinding, enhance the streetscape, and establish a cohesive landscape open-space system on the campus itself and along its edges. UDC will explore ways in which physical improvements to the Van Ness campus can make the neighborhood more physically and economically attractive in order to connect the community and campus populations, and to enliven Connecticut Avenue by improving the streetscape and adding more community-oriented retail in this thriving mixed-use commercial district. He introduced Henrique Siblesz, brand design manager with Gensler, to present the design.
Mr. Siblesz said the initiative includes the development of strategies to unify the three campuses. He described how other schools in Washington use signage on their building facades, illustrating examples from American, Howard, and George Washington Universities including the Corcoran School of Art, along with an earlier image of the UDC Lamond-Riggs campus.
Mr. Siblesz presented UDC’s Van Ness campus in detail. He said the project team has conducted a comprehensive survey of the Van Ness area and has identified current issues. UDC is expanding into existing adjacent office buildings, but no obvious signifier communicates that these are part of the UDC campus. In addition, the campus has multiple entrances instead of a main entrance; these entrances tie the campus more closely to the surrounding community, but neither the campus’s buildings nor its boundaries are clearly identified. This project therefore proposes adding graphic signage as banners and wraps on buildings, light poles, and trash and recycling cans along Connecticut Avenue; he said the installation of projecting fin banners on light poles is intended to create a sense of rhythm throughout the campus.
Mr. Siblesz presented an illustration of the original design for the Van Ness campus’s Student Center, which was planned to include a vertical garden adjoining the exterior staircase on the Connecticut Avenue facade; the proposal is to add a vinyl graphic at this location to enliven the plaza along the roadway. The graphic is projected to have a lifespan of three to five years, and it would be periodically evaluated; whether any next step would be a replacement of this particular graphic or an architectural intervention will be explored in the future. For the building to the north at 4250 Connecticut Avenue, Mr. Siblesz said the ground floor will house primarily retail space, and the university will occupy the upper floors; the goal of the exterior graphics project is to give focus to this building as a university property. He indicated the UDC Law School at the northern boundary of the Van Ness campus; the design intent for this building is to signify arrival at the campus and to enhance the facade, which is very visible to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. He noted that an outdated logo on the building would be removed.
Mr. Siblesz concluded by illustrating the existing conditions at the Lamond-Riggs and Old Congress Heights campuses. Lamond-Riggs currently has signage and banners; these would be updated with a simplified, flatter version of the graphics proposed at the Van Ness campus. He said the Congress Heights campus currently lacks clear identification, and new graphics would be used to highlight the main entrance.
Chair Tsien invited questions and comments from the Commission members. Ms. Delplace asked about the rationale and hierarchy of the graphic elements, including the determination of their scale, size, and visibility, as well as how they would be added to the architecture. Mr. Siblesz responded that one challenge, particularly at the Van Ness campus, is that the buildings have different architectural styles, especially along Connecticut Avenue; the graphics application is intended to create a sense of unity for the campus. He said the program has focused on creating a unified vision of design and color, and on identifying locations that would have the greatest impact; this is why the study began with the Law School at the north and then was carried through to the building at 4250 Connecticut Avenue and farther south to the exterior stairway along the facade of the Student Center.
Ms. Delplace observed that the presentation illustrated particular buildings in isolation. Noting the great impact that is intended for the program elements, she recommended illustrating how they would appear in context with the surrounding community to understand how the signage would visually affect not only the UDC campus but the other buildings across Connecticut Avenue. She emphasized the importance of understanding this because of the potential risk of creating a lot of visual clutter. Mr. Siblesz responded that the project team has done many contextual studies. He said Connecticut Avenue is a wide and busy vehicular roadway, but notably it does not have much existing signage in the Van Ness neighborhood, and new signs would therefore not present much of a conflict. Additionally, in some seasons the large trees along the avenue would partially block the view of the graphics. Ms. Delplace agreed that Connecticut Avenue is a major city thoroughfare and in the Van Ness neighborhood it is very congested, with a lot going on visually at both the pedestrian and vehicular levels, and she reiterated that these contextual studies are essential for the Commission’s review.
Dr. Edwards expressed support for Ms. Delplace’s comments, adding that contextual studies would also be helpful for the Lamond-Riggs campus, which is located on South Dakota Avenue, NE. She noted the extensive new construction in this area, and she said a contextual study would show the different architectural styles, heights, and massings in the neighborhood. She added that the studies should include the approach to the campus from all directions, including from the side streets.
Mr. Cook asked for more information about the durability of the proposed graphics. Noting that the banner proposed for the Student Center at the Van Ness campus is projected to have a lifespan of three to five years, he asked whether after a couple of years it might it fray at the bottom edge and start to look bad. Mr. Siblesz responded that the graphics are designed to last five to six years, with the recommendation that their condition be evaluated after three years, and plans made at that time for when they should be replaced. He said the proposed sign locations do not face south, which will reduce their fading from exposure to sunlight. The large banners attached to buildings would be made of perforated mesh, which will allow sunlight to reach the windows located behind them.
Mr. Cook referred to an illustration of the banner proposed for the staircase along the Student Center facade at the Van Ness campus, observing that this is a busy and highly visible area for both pedestrians and vehicles. He asked how the university would deal with a deteriorated banner in this location if funding is not available to fix it. Mr. Siblesz responded that the graphics will be designed to be both replaceable and removeable without damage to the buildings. Indicating the location of a planter below the bottom edge of the banner on the Student Center, he said a means could be devised so that the banner would terminate high enough above ground level so that it would not be damaged by soil or any other material in the planter. Mr. Cook noted that these issues should be considered as the design is developed.
Mr. Luebke summarized that the Commission members have discussed the overall impact of the new signage proposed for the three UDC campuses on their respective neighborhoods, along with various technical issues, and have not expressed any fundamental opposition. Noting that the proposed timeframe is for the signage to be installed by November 2024 for UDC’s homecoming, he said the Commission could choose to delegate further review of the project to the staff. Chair Tsien agreed and suggested approval of the concept with the comments provided, along with delegation to the staff. Upon a motion by Ms. Delplace with second by Mr. Cook, the Commission adopted this action.
E. D.C. Department of General Services
CFA 19/SEP/24-5, MacArthur High School, 4530 MacArthur Boulevard, NW. Renovations and additions to building and landscape. Final. (Previous: CFA 21/MAR/24-4) The Commission acted on the submission earlier in the meeting without a presentation, following agenda item II.A.
F. D.C. Department of Buildings—Shipstead-Luce Act
SL 24-166, Portals I, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW. Renovations and additions to existing 8-story office building for residential use. Revised concept. (Previous: SL 22-162, September 2022) The Commission acted on the submission earlier in the meeting without a presentation, following agenda item II.A.
G. U.S. Mint
1. CFA 19/SEP/24-6, Congressional Silver and Gold Medals honoring the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Code Talkers. Designs for obverse and reverse. Final.
Secretary Luebke introduced the proposed design for the latest in a series of Congressional Gold Medals honoring Native American tribes whose members used their tribal language for secret military communications during World Wars I and II. In 2001, a medal was awarded to the widely publicized Navajo code talkers. Follow-up legislation in 2008 authorized additional medals for other tribes whose contributions were lesser known; the Commission subsequently reviewed more than thirty medals, most recently in 2015.
After a nine-year hiatus, the program is resuming with a medal for the Lower Brule Sioux tribe. A gold medal will be presented to the tribe; silver duplicates will be presented to the tribe’s code talkers or their heirs or representatives; and the Mint will offer bronze duplicates for sale to the public. The Mint has submitted a single pairing of an obverse and reverse design, developed in consultation with a historian and the leader of the Lower Brule Sioux tribe. The proposed obverse depicts World War I soldiers along with a traditional tribal warrior; as with many other medals in this series, the proposed reverse features the tribal seal. He asked Roger Vasquez, senior design manager in the Mint’s Office of Design Management, to present the design.
Mr. Vasquez said the Mint’s liaisons included the tribe’s vice chairman and Dr. William Meadows, a professor in Native American Studies at Missouri State University; he noted that Dr. Meadows had testified in support of the authorizing legislation for this program. He said the liaisons have provided guidance on the design content and the technical and historical accuracy of the current proposal. The obverse depicts World War I soldiers, including a code talker who is transmitting and writing information; behind them, a warrior holds an eagle staff. The inscriptions include “Code Talkers” and several phrases in the Lakota language. On the proposed reverse, a decorative border encircles the tribal seal and the inscriptions “Lower Brule Sioux Tribe,” “2008 Act of Congress,” and “WWI.”
Chair Tsien observed that the single pairing of designs is unusual for the Mint’s submissions, which often include a large number of alternatives. Secretary Luebke noted that the Mint has occasionally submitted a single proposal for past medals, such as those honoring an outgoing Secretary of the Treasury; while the submission is not complex, the process includes the opportunity for the Commission to comment on the proposed design. He added that both the obverse and reverse proposals are consistent with the designs for earlier medals in this series.
Mr. Cook observed that the obverse and reverse inscriptions are shown with differing fonts. Mr. Vasquez said this difference is not a specific design intent, and the Mint could consider a recommendation to coordinate the fonts. Chair Tsien agreed that the obverse and reverse text have a very different appearance, and she supported a recommendation to coordinate the fonts; she asked which font is preferred. Mr. Cook said the font on the reverse has a blocky appearance, and he supported using the serif font shown on the obverse design; the other Commission members agreed.
Mr. Cook asked about the fragments of a circular element seen in the background at the center of the obverse composition. Mr. Vasquez said this is the partially visible tribal seal, which is seen in its complete form on the reverse; the Mint could consider removing this element from the obverse if recommended by the Commission. Mr. Cook observed that the design of the obverse is complex, but the circular background element may be helping to tie together the composition; he encouraged the Mint to study whether the design would be strengthened or weakened by removing the background of the tribal seal. Mr. Lenihan agreed that this circular element may need an explanation to be understood as the tribal seal, although its presence seems helpful in unifying the composition. Chair Tsien suggested a consensus to ask the Mint’s designer to consider whether this element is a necessary part of the design, either symbolically or compositionally; the Commission would not make a specific recommendation to keep or remove it.
Upon a motion by Mr. Cook with second by Dr. Edwards, the Commission approved the submitted obverse and reverse, with the request to coordinate the obverse and reverse typefaces with a preference for the obverse font, and to study the potential benefit of removing the tribal seal from the background of the obverse design.
2. CFA 19/SEP/24-7, Comic Art Coin and Medal Program—Superman. Designs for obverse and reverse. Final.
Secretary Luebke introduced the proposed design for a coin and medal depicting the comic book hero Superman, the first in a planned series honoring the art form of comics. These non-circulating commemorative items would be available for sale to the public. The Mint has submitted a single pairing of an obverse and reverse design, each with multiple formats: the gold coin is required to include standard inscriptions for coinage; the medals, with either a silver or clad composition, would have fewer inscriptions. He asked Boneza Hanchock from the Mint’s Office of Design Management to present the design.
Ms. Hanchock said each issue in the comic art program will include a gold coin, a 2.5-ounce silver medal, a 1-ounce silver medal, and a 1.2-inch diameter clad medal; all of these will be produced in a proof finish. She described the Superman character as resulting from his creators’ personal interests and experiences along with the broader cultural and social context of the nation in the 1930s. She added that “Superman’s enduring popularity is a testament to the character’s ability to resonate with audiences and adapt to changing societal norms and issues over the decades.”
Ms. Hanchock said the Mint staff has worked closely with representatives of Warner Brothers and D.C. Comics in developing the proposal. Numerous initial designs were drafted, but most have been removed from consideration; concerns included the appropriateness of associating the Superman character with other design elements, such as the U.S. Capitol or the Statue of Liberty, or with situations that do not reflect his story as a superhero. Designs were also rejected if they did not meet the comic art program’s goal of conveying a connection of the character with American values and culture, while also representing the iconography of comic art. The proposed obverse and reverse emerged from this intensive design development process.
Ms. Hanchock presented the obverse design, which depicts Superman flying over his family farm, where the young Clark Kent was raised by his adoptive parents; the sun in the background nurtures the farmland while also providing the fuel source for Superman’s powers. She then presented the reverse design, which explores Superman’s inherent duality of identity. Clark Kent is shown as a young adult deep in thought as he watches an airplane fly overhead, while his father looks on from a distance; Kent is contemplating the possibilities for his life and the inevitability of leaving home to fulfill his destiny.
Ms. Hanchock clarified the differing text of the design formats. The gold coin’s obverse includes the inscriptions “Liberty,” the minting year “2025,” and “In God We Trust.” The silver medals include “Liberty” and, for the 2.5-ounce medal, “2025.” The clad medal includes only the inscription “Liberty.” On the reverse, the silver and clad medals would not have any text, while the gold coin includes “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum,” the denomination “$50,” and the metallic composition descriptions of “1/2 Oz.” and “.9999 Fine Gold.”
Chair Tsien invited questions and comments from the Commission members. Mr. Moore observed that the lengthy text of the metallic specification on the gold coin’s reverse is distracting; he asked if its size has been minimized. Ms. Hanchock said these design details have been carefully studied during the Mint’s internal review by the Mint’s chief engraver, Joe Menna, who is also the artist for the obverse design; she noted that he is available for questions. She confirmed that the illustrated inscriptions are required, and they are sized to be legible.
Ms. Delplace commented that the reverse design for the medal format, with no text, seems incomplete; she contrasted the complex and detailed treatment of the design elements with the areas of blank space where the text from the coin format has been removed. She said the truck appears to be floating within the composition in the medal format, and it needs to be grounded. She also observed that the truck appears to be identifiably from the 1940s, while the jet plane above seems to be from a later era. For the top of the reverse in the coin format, she observed that the inscription “United States of America” is difficult to read across the clouds; she acknowledged that this problem in the presented drawing may appear differently on the sculpted coin. Secretary Luebke noted that the clouds also extend behind Clark Kent’s head, possibly obscuring his presence in the composition; Chair Tsien said this concern should be included as part of the Commission’s response.
For the obverse, Ms. Delplace commented that Superman is drawn with a different level of detail than the barn in the background; more generally, she observed that the artistic technique for the design has the graphic quality of a comic book, except for the depiction of the barn.
Chair Tsien asked if the Commission members want to address the issue of the time period for the compositional elements. Secretary Luebke noted the presented origins of the Superman character in the 1930s, the truck from the 1940s, and the jet plane from approximately the 1960s; the Commission could recommend tightening the timeframe. Chair Tsien noted the consensus of the Commission to support a request to place the design at a particular time, with chronologically consistent details for the truck and plane. Ms. Delplace added that even if the truck is from the 1930s instead of 1940s, it is inconsistent with the later airplane.
Ms. Hanchock asked Mr. Menna to respond to this comment, noting that he was closely involved in creating this comic art program. Mr. Menna said an older truck, such as the one depicted on the reverse, would be a very typical presence on a financially challenged farm in the American heartland. The design depicts the Kent farm from Clark Kent’s impoverished childhood, with his father shown working to maintain the old truck. The truck has a longstanding presence in the mythology of Clark Kent’s life on the farm, and the truck continues to be a feature of Superman stories.
Chair Tsien said the concern may be with the jet plane in the sky, which is more modern than the truck. Mr. Menna noted that the Clark Kent character and mythology have been refreshed in various ways over the decades; the jet plane is consistent with the character’s depiction in the 1980s and 1990s. Ms. Delplace observed that the differing time periods require a lot of explanation to be understandable, and she suggested reevaluating this aspect of the design, such as by substituting a propeller plane for the jet.
Chair Tsien summarized that the Commission’s comments should be taken as suggestions for the Mint’s consideration, not as firm recommendations to make specific changes. She suggested a consensus to approve the submitted obverse and reverse with the comments provided. Upon a motion by Ms. Delplace with second by Mr. Lenihan, the Commission adopted this action. Ms. Delplace noted that some of the compositional concerns with the clouds may be resolved in addressing the other comments provided for the reverse design, and she encouraged further study by Mr. Menna.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:13 p.m.
Signed,
Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary