Dear Mr. Nafici:

In its meeting of 18 October, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed and approved the concept design for elevators and stairs to connect the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with the riverfront trail of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway.

The Commission members expressed their strong support for the concept of a connection and for the merits of this design, whose lightweight construction will gracefully complement the marble cladding and floating character of the Kennedy Center terrace. They suggested further consideration of the materials and finishes, commenting that the proposed glass treads and guardrails would likely require careful detailing and frequent maintenance to be feasible. The members acknowledged the comments of the National Park Service and the Kennedy Center; due to the complexity of the overall design, the members supported the National Park Service’s suggestion to reconsider the proposed fountain.

As always, the Commission staff is available to assist you with future submissions.

Sincerely,

/s/Thomas E. Luebke, AIA
Secretary

Ardeshir Nafici, Acting Associate Director
Infrastructure Project Management Administration
District of Columbia Department of Transportation
64 New York Avenue, N.E., 1st Floor
Washington, DC 20002

cc: Don Paine, KGP Design Studio
Claudette Donlon, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Joseph M. Lawler, National Park Service