Letter
Dear Mr. Hunter:
In its public meeting of 18 November conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a new concept design for a new community center building at Fort Lincoln Park in Northeast Washington, superseding a previous design approved in October 2020. The Commission approved the submission with the following comments and recommendations for the development of the design.
Acknowledging the changes in program and budget that have resulted in this new proposal, the Commission members expressed support for the general planning of the recreation center and its site. However, they emphasized that the design of a civic project should focus on durability and long-term performance in creating a public building that will last for generations, and they expressed concern that the building’s exterior materials and construction were not sufficiently developed to achieve this goal. They therefore requested the development of exterior details, such as the brick patterning proposed to express the composition of triangular planes implied in the schematic elevation drawings; they recommended using glass-fiber reinforced concrete for durability instead of manufactured wood panels. For the design of the site, they recommended refining the system of pedestrian walks along topographic lines, potentially with less rigid geometry to enhance the enjoyment of this impressive hilltop setting and its approaches to the adjacent park landscape and surrounding community.
The Commission looks forward to further review of the community center at Fort Lincoln Park, as well as a final design submission for the rehabilitation of the adjacent park. As always, the staff is available to assist in the development of these submissions.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Delano Hunter, Director
D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation
1275 First Street, NE, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
cc: Andrew Domnitz, Studios Architecture
Adrienne McCray, Lee & Associates