After a rejection earlier in the year, Frank Gehry has gotten some good news: his revised design for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, located in Washington, D.C., has received preliminary approval.
The National Capital Planning Commission voted 10-1 to approve the revision, according to Architecture Lab. The same commission rejected Gehry's original proposal months ago, citing concerns about the large metal tapestries proposed by the architect and how they would affect the view to and from Capitol Hill.
In September, Gehry unveiled the new design, with the metal tapestries removed along with other changes. After the approval, Gehry said in a statement: "I'm grateful to the National Capital Planning Commission for its decision, and for its cooperative engagement in resolving the issues."
According to the Los Angeles Times, members of the Eisenhower family have expressed strong disapproval of the design, even the revised version.
The memorial must go through other levels of approval before it is finalized, including funding approval from Congress; the estimated cost of construction is over $100 million.
The revised design addresses several concerns raised during the NCPC meeting earlier this year:
• The design revisions eliminate the East and West Tapestries, allowing the influence of the adjacent buildings to define and unify the site.
• The northern singular columns are set back more than 47 feet from the Independence Avenue Right-of-Way and are fully within the planes of the adjacent building facades.
• The revised design has widened the Maryland Avenue view corridor from 95 feet to 135 feet. This creates a more proportionally horizontal framing of the U.S. Capitol.
• Original concept included four columns that were within the 160-foot right of way. With the elimination of the side tapestries, the revised plan now includes only two columns within the southern edge of 160-foot right of way.
Related Stories
| Sep 19, 2013
What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings
Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.
| Sep 19, 2013
6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies
Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level.
| Sep 19, 2013
Roof renovation tips: Making the choice between overlayment and tear-off
When embarking upon a roofing renovation project, one of the first decisions for the Building Team is whether to tear off and replace the existing roof or to overlay the new roof right on top of the old one. Roofing experts offer guidance on making this assessment.
| Sep 17, 2013
First look: BIG+MVVA proposal for Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park
BIG’s proposal for Brooklyn Bridge Park, a project that has revitalized the New York City waterfront, consists of a 6,000 ft2 (560 m2) triangular cross-laminated timber structure, serving both as pavilion and platform. Sloping upwards 17.5 feet (5.3 m) in height from the foot of the large gathering lawn, the platform provides magnificent views of the surrounding harbor, the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
| Sep 11, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 3 coverage
Day 3 coverage of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo, taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.
| Sep 10, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 2 coverage
The BD+C editorial team brings you this real-time coverage of day 2 of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.
| Sep 3, 2013
'School in a box' project will place school in San Diego public library
Thinking outside the box, LPA Inc. is designing a school inside a box. With an emphasis on three E’s—Engage, Educate, and Empower—e3 Civic High is now being constructed on the sixth and seventh floors of a public library in downtown San Diego. Library patrons will be able to see into the school via glass elevators, but will not have physical access to the school.
| Aug 26, 2013
What you missed last week: Architecture billings up again; record year for hotel renovations; nation's most expensive real estate markets
BD+C's roundup of the top construction market news for the week of August 18 includes the latest architecture billings index from AIA and a BOMA study on the nation's most and least expensive commercial real estate markets.
| Aug 22, 2013
Sports Facility Report [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Building Design+Construction's rankings of the nation's largest sports facility design and construction firms, as reported in the 2013 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 22, 2013
Energy-efficient glazing technology [AIA Course]
This course discuses the latest technological advances in glazing, which make possible ever more efficient enclosures with ever greater glazed area.