Letter
Dear Mr. Carr:
In its public meeting of 18 September conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a concept submission for new exterior and interior lighting for Washington Union Station, located at 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Expressing numerous concerns regarding the proposed lighting improvements for the building, the Commission did not take an action and provided the following comments.
The Commission members acknowledged the need to enhance the safety and public experience of this historic landmark that serves as a multimodal transit hub and a gateway to the nation’s capital. However, they commented that the proposed lighting design as illustrated appears to be too bright and uniform, creating a washed-out quality both inside and outside the building. They therefore recommended refining the design—whether by adjustments to fixture placement, color temperature, or illumination levels—to more appropriately emphasize the architectural detailing of the building.Understanding that certain levels of illumination are required for safety, they advised reducing the excessive, even brightness on the building and the resulting stark contrast with the surrounding context, noting that these conditions could be challenging for many users.
In their discussion, the Commission members also recommended studying the addition of exterior lighting to the barrel vault over the train hall, itself a prominent feature of the building and visible from many locations. Citing the preponderant use of white light for civic buildings in the capital, they recommended against incorporating the permanent capacity to illuminate the station with colored light, which they found would be inappropriate and difficult to monitor. In order to fully evaluate the proposal, they requested new photographs that more accurately depict the existing night-time conditions, including existing light standards, lights from vehicles, and other light pollution.
The Commission looks forward to the review of a revised design that addresses these comments. As always, the staff is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Douglas Carr, President & CEO
Union Station Redevelopment Corporation
750 First Street, NE, Suite 1010
Washington, DC 20002
cc: Brian Gafney, Antunovich Associates
Claude Engle IV, Claude R. Engle Lighting Consultant
Marcel Acosta, National Capital Planning Commission
David Maloney, D.C. Historic Preservation Office