Letter
Dear Mr. Lawler:
In the meeting of 15 June, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the revised concept design for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in West Potomac Park. The Commission members concluded that the proposed addition of water features would reduce the strength of the concept design that was approved in March. While some of the Commission members were sympathetic to the desire to introduce water as part of the memorial design, they declined to take further action and urged the design team to continue developing the previously approved concept, requesting particular attention to the detailing and fabrication of the large stone features that are the memorial's primary gesture. The Commission did not comment on the remaining revisions to the approved concept which were relatively minor and can be incorporated into the next submission of this project.
The Commission members reiterated their praise of the strength and simplicity of the approved design concept. As always, the Commission staff is available should you require further guidance.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Joe Lawler, Regional Director
National Capital Region
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
cc: John Parsons, National Park Service
Ed Jackson, Jr., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project
Boris Dramov, ROMA Design Group