Letter
Dear Mr. Fisher:
In its public meeting of 16 July, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept design for new perimeter fencing at Lafayette Square, the public reservation located between Pennsylvania Avenue and H Street, NW, and Jackson and Madison Places. Expressing support for finding a permanent solution for public safety during periods requiring heightened security in this preeminent public space facing the White House, the Commission did not take an action on the proposal and requested further development of the design.
In their discussion of the proposal, the Commission members noted the historic role of the park as a site for First Amendment activities; they advised keeping the park as open as possible for peaceful events and occupancy while also ensuring its safety. They characterized the project as one of enclosure, not closure, and they encouraged engagement with the historic preservation community to protect the park’s character and use. They cited the successful design for perimeter security at the Washington Monument, which uses bermed landscape walls to achieve its goals, but they found that this solution would not work within the relatively flat landscape and urban character of Lafayette Square. For the overall configuration of the enclosure, they advised using as simple an alignment as possible, with straight lines and corners without complex geometry. They expressed a preference for a single line of enclosure only along H Street if it were possible, although they recognized that this would require frequent closure of the entire park to the public while the adjacent streets are closed; if it would help to improve the various security scenarios, they suggested including a strategy for more enclosure at the east and west ends of Pennsylvania Avenue at 15th and 17th Streets.
For the design of the elements of the enclosure, they again recommended following a spirit of simplicity in lieu of a more organic expression; they suggested using the White House fence as a model for the form and detailing of the new enclosure. They also expressed support for the four-inch clear spacing option of the fence pickets, and they requested further study and documentation of the proposed incorporation of bollards into the fence design. For the main entrances to the park at the 16th Street axis, they recommended the placement of two pairs of gates each flanked by masonry piers—similar to the historic piers at the entrances to the White House Grounds across Pennsylvania Avenue—separated by a central segment of fencing rather than a long sequence of contiguous gates. They noted that the design of gates and fencing at the corners of the site requires special attention, as these elements would affect the setting of the statues of the four foreign Revolutionary War generals.
The Commission looks forward to reviewing a concept design that develops a more specific proposal for the layout and design of the fence enclosure for this nationally significant public landscape. Please continue to consult on the development of the design with the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Joshua Fisher, Assistant to the President
Director, Office of Management and Administration
Executive Office of the President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
cc: Andrew Stohs, U.S. Secret Service
Alan Harwood, AECOM
John Stanwich, National Park Service
Marcel Acosta, National Capital Planning Commission
David Maloney, D.C. Historic Preservation Office