CFA 18/JUN/25-p

Location

West Potomac Park at the southwest corner of 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
United States

Owner
National Park Service
Property
National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial
Description
Design for new memorial
Review Type
Final

Recommendation

Project approved by delegation. See letter dated 16 June 2025. Refer to DC Historic Preservation Office.

Letter

Dear Ms. Nersesian:

The staff of the Commission of Fine Arts has reviewed the final documentation for the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, to be located near the southwest corner of 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. With the authority delegated by the Commission at its meeting of 20 October 2022, the staff approves the final design for the project as documented in the materials received and dated 30 May 2025; this follows previous staff approvals of the site work and landscape, as well as the Inscription Wall, Unity Shield, and individual sections of the Storm Wall. This letter of approval concludes the Commission’s review process.

The Commission of Fine Arts congratulates the project team on this momentous achievement and looks forward to the completion of this nationally significant commemorative work. As always, the staff is available to assist you with future
submissions.

Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary

Jennifer Nersesian, Regional Director
National Capital Region
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242

cc: Skip Graffam, The Olin Studio
Emily Bedard, sculptor
Robert Eccleston, sculptor
Scott Stump, National Desert Storm War Memorial Association
Marcel Acosta, National Capital Planning Commission