Letter
Dear Ms. Stanwich:
In its meeting of 19 February, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the proposed signage for the National Archives building at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The Commission raised strong concerns about the design of the proposed signs and their compatibility with the rigorous neoclassical building by John Russell Pope.
While the Commission members expressed appreciation for the detailing of the four proposed identifying signs, they recommended against the signs at the corners of the site, commenting that the building's primary facades provide sufficient identification. The Commission also recommended that only a single informational sign be installed at each building entrance, rather than the paired signs as proposed. The Commission members questioned the proposed signage on the building facade along queuing areas, commenting that these signs could be eliminated from the proposal or could be graphically modified to be simpler and more informational rather than having the character of commercial advertisements.
As always, the staff is available to assist with the next submission.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Maria Carosa Stanwich
Head of Operations and Public Programs
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room G-9
Washington, DC 20408
cc: James Stokoe, Arch Etal