Letter
Dear Mr. Anderson:
In its meeting of 18 July, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept submission for the construction of a new two-story school building adjacent to the existing Charles Young Elementary School, located at 820 26th Street, NE. The Commission approved the submission and provided the following comments.
Acknowledging the limitations of the site, the Commission members expressed support for the placement and massing of the proposed new building and its articulation of base and top. For the exterior materials, they recommended the option that features brick on the ground floor and vertical wood siding on the upper story, which would sufficiently differentiate the new structure from the adjacent existing brick school buildings while still having a relationship to this context. They questioned the logic of the random fenestration pattern, requesting that the window arrangement be carefully studied; they also recommended simplification of the roof’s profile, and suggested that the composition of the elevation should anticipate the possible addition of the third story. They commented that the drop-off area may be undersized for the number of students, and they suggested that the movement from the eastern side of the site could be developed further.
The Commission looks forward to further review of this project. Please coordinate the next submission with the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Keith A. Anderson, Director
D.C. Department of General Services
2000 14th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
cc: Jacob Marzolf, Studio 27 Architecture