Letter
Dear Mr. McGill:
In the last meeting of 19 January, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the revised concept design for the modernization and renovation of the Federal Office Building #8 (FOB-8) located at Second and C Streets, SW and the associated landscape design concept. The Commission approved the concept for the building, noting the great improvement in the architectural design since the last presentation. The members suggested that the design of the east and west ends of the building be reconsidered given the varying conditions of the surrounding urban fabric, including the view from the nearby highway.
The Commission did not approve the landscape concept, requesting that the landscape proposal be coordinated more closely with current planning for C Street in this vicinity by the GSA. The members suggested that the landscape design be revised to respond more to the urban context than to the proposed building architecture. Their specific suggestions were to regularize the spacing of street trees, to avoid unusual angles in the paving plan, and to realign the berm on the west side of the C Street plaza so that it follows the orthogonal street grid.
The Commission looks forward to the review of a revised concept for the landscape, as well as a more detailed design submission for the building. As always, the staff is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/
Thomas Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Michael McGill
Special Assistant for Regional Coordination
General Services Administration
Public Buildings Service, NCR, Portfolio Management Division
7th and D Streets, SW - Room 7600
Washington, DC 20407