What Makes a Monument?

Last night several artists participated in a Smithsonian-sponsored presentation and round-table discussion concerning the problematics of modern day "Approaches to Public Art, Placemaking, and National Commemoration." Their essential message was: monuments, as they're traditionally conceived and built, are boring, and they quickly fade from the foreground of our memory and conscious, eventually losing their meaning all together. "Monuments are doomed to be invisible" one artist explained. It seemed a spot-on idea for the dead history capital of the world.

Each artist offered distinct but congruent solutions to the problem of dead war-figure monuments. Krzysztof Wodiczko, Harvard professor and artist in temporary and interactive light installations, expressed his wish for existing monuments to be "reactualized," reconnected to modern life through new artistic undertakings (multimedia, performance art, etc). "There are so many historic buildings and monuments," he explained, "for which the contradictions between the ideals for which they were built and the actuality of the way life really is happening in front of them, is left unexplored." Sounds a bit heady for a stodgy old Washington, D.C. But its a profound thought, that calls for further contemplation.

Julian LaVerdiere, artist and designer of the World Trade Center Tribute in Light, expressed his wish to see monuments not become celebrated for a singular statue or brick, but derive meaning through their ability to offer a "transformative experience" to the visitor. He cited a potato famine memorial in New York City at which the artist had simply picked up an acre of a fallow Irish farm and plopped it in the middle of a city square. Both LaVerdiere and Justine Simons, Director London's Cultural Agenda and Programming for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, voiced their support of temporary public art instillation as a substitute for monuments. Wodiczko said, "I don't mind permanent monuments, as long as they change," eliciting a large laugh from the audience.

Host and moderator Thomas Luebke, Secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Art, said what everyone was thinking, or at least what I was thinking, when he observed, "Too oten memorials in D.C. just feel like real estate development." But how does a city with so many watch-dog groups, and so many politicians waiting to get involved, attempt to "wake up the landscape," as Simons suggested? She attributed much of her success in staging the temporary memorials of Trafalgar Square's 4th Plinth to her ability to "rid the process of all politicians and politics." The temporary nature of the projects "rid the process of some of the anxiety," she explained, "and allowed us to experiment and test the boundaries."

At the end of the presentations and subsequent discussion, the audience wasn't exactly left with a solution, but that's never how these kinds of things work. Instead, listeners were left with several provocative ideas to contemplate. How do we wake up the landscape with interactive, meaningful public art and memorials? How do we keep monuments alive? What is the future of place making in a fractious culture, and a divisive climate? And how do we sneak some interesting public art past the NCPC, ANC's, District Council, and the Committee of 100?

Smithsonian's New Museum of African American History and Culture Unveils Latest Design Changes

Awarded the rights to design the Museum of African American History and Culture by the Smithsonian back in April of 2009, a Smithsonian presenter and team of architects from Freelon, Adjaye Associates, and Davis Brody Bond unveiled the newest plans for the National Mall's next museum yesterday. Responding to initial concerns about the large size of the building and it's impact on the views of the Washington Monument and surrounding Mall, the team presented their augmented designs - lowered, and shifted back - to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). This is the first of many give and take meetings that will play out before the building is finally built and opened in November of 2015. Next stop: the Commission of Fine Arts will review the newest concept design, final approval on the design will not come until 2012.

The three tiers (the "Corona") of bronze, porous, pumice-stone-like material still form the bulk of the structure. What was originally a large base of the building, the "Porch," has been mostly pushed below grade so only the top pierces ground level, a concession to the prominence of Washington's Monument. The raised platform will retain its mezzanine functionality as a place to install skylights to illuminate below grade programming. Planners are proposing to mound the earth around the structure to replicate the sloping dimensions of the neighboring Monument grounds.

Overall, the building's footprint and profile have been reduced, and adjusted slightly to the south, to diminish the perceived brutish visual intrusion of the building as initially rendered. Although the designers admit that this new position shifts the building a bit offline from the center alignment of existing museums, the changes were made to create a less obtrusive structure, and allow more open sight lines to and pleasantly framed views of the Washington Monument from Constitution Avenue.

Initial renderings showed the Porch rising high above ground

Revisions on technical matters - security, landscaping, loading and docks - will continue, but the Commission had approved previous conceptual designs, and no comments from the NCPC panel appeared likely to derail the overall concept. But persisting complaints highlighted the difficulties that lay ahead for this design team. A long road to appease a plethora of the different guard dog and policy making entities awaits: DDOT, National Park Service, NCPC, the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, Office of Planning, and more. One panelist commended the design team for both their efforts at middle ground and their endeavor to blend a modern design into the setting of the Mall. "I sympathize greatly with the design team...With all of their demands, it seems a lot of my colleagues seem to want to you build a building that is invisible." With that being unlikely, the design may well retain the form presented at yesterday's unveiling. Another interesting reaction was that of Commission member Herbert F. Ames, who after applauding the design team, slammed down his fist and implored Congress (who I'm pretty sure wasn't in the room) to put a stop to any new projects set for the National Mall. "We're going to ruin a national treasure," he said, "the Mall was full years ago, and the Mall is full now."

Washington D.C. Real Estate Development News

Freelon to Design African American History Museum

The Smithsonian Institute announced today (via their insanely popular Smithsonian Channel Blog) that the Freelon Group, Adjaye Associates and Davis Brody Bond in association with SmithGroup have been selected to design the National Museum of African American History and Culture. To be constructed at 15^th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, the 350,000 square foot museum will stand on the very last vacant parcel of the National Mall.

Since the prospective designs went public last month, the winning team has gone on to beat out a formidable list of competitors that included Diller Scofidio and Renfro and KlingStubbins;" Devrouax and Purnell Architects, Pei Cobb Freed and Partners; Moshe Safdie and Associates and Sulton Campbell Britt & Associates), Foster and Partners and URS and Moody Nolan Inc. and Antoine Predock Architect.

“[We] set up a poll on the Smithsonian Channel Blog asking readers who they think should win and although the Moody Nolan was the clear favorite, another design took home the win,” said Filippa Fenton of Smithsonian Networks. So much for democracy.

According to the Smithsonian, the selected “bronze-tiered design” (aka “the corona”) represents a “melding of cultural symbols, traditions and movements” from “the working landscapes of the American south to the crowns of Nigerian Yoruba artifacts.”

Construction of the $500 million complex is currently scheduled to begin in 2012. For a detailed look at Washington’s soon-to-be newest museum, check out the swanky virtual tour of the design, courtesy of the Smithsonian.

Smithsonian Seeking Museum Architect

Five years after Congress established it, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the newest and 19th Smithsonian Institution Museum, is looking for an architect. The RFQ, issued last Wednesday, calls for a team that has experience working with government agencies and private industries, can design the building within a thirty-six month calendar, and who will "infuse" their vision with "an appreciation of African American History and Culture".

"We also look forward to working with a firm whose member share our respect for the National Mall and are excited about creating a signature, green building that will be worthy of its site, the Smithsonian and the richness of African American culture," said founding director of the museum, Lonnie Bunch.

Submissions are due by September 19, 2008 with selection scheduled for spring 2009. The Smithsonian has already reached out to members of the National Organization of Minority Architects, the American Institute of Architects, and other organizations to design the "symbolic" five-acre site between the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The RFQ says, "Minority, small business, small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business....and Service Disabled Veteran owned firms are strongly encouraged to apply."

The development timetable for the 350,000 s.f. museum calls for groundbreaking in 2012 with completion in 2015.

Washington, D.C. real estate development news

NCPC's Strategic Plan

Nothing moves forward in Washington without two things - official approval and monetary support. Urban development is no exception to the rule, which is why each year the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC) puts together a strategic development plan for the coming six years that looks at the federal building pipeline and indicates which projects have the most potential, are consistent with NCPC policy, and warrant further consideration. This year's report for FYs 2009-2014 is now available for public review and feedback.

While the recommendations made are not necessarily an indication of how the NCPC will vote on a given project, the yearly evaluation helps guide the planning process for the Capital region and examines both the positive and negative effects of future federal developments. The recommendations made during this process are then forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for consideration in the President's annual budget.

This year's Federal Capital Improvements Program includes 195 proposed projects, the estimated cost for which is over $8.5 billion. While submissions are subject to change, NCPC ranked the current projects in four categories based on their conformity with "established planning policies"; the categories are "Recommended and Strongly Endorsed", "Recommended", "Projects Requiring Additional Planning Coordination", and "Recommended for Future Programming." Here is how some of the big-name projects ranked:

The Armed Forces Retirement Home Master Plan was ranked as a "Project Requiring Additional Planning Coordination" because of "outstanding development issues and pending completion of a master plan." Unlike most projects that go before the NCPC, funding for this project is provided by a trust fund supported by the residents living at the home, military fines levied against troops, and active-duty soldiers. The DC Master Plan, which has a proposed budget of $200,000 for FYs 2009-2014, involves the development of 107 acres and 6.14 million s.f. of residential, hotel, retail, and Assisted Living space. It is intended to generate revenue to help with the annual operating deficit at the AFRH. The AFRH is working with the NCPC to address issues with traffic, historic preservation, and open space.

The 1.3 million s.f. Department of the Interior Building at 19th and C Streets, NW, will require $85,000,000 in FYs 2009-2014 for major building system updates including fire safety, HVAC, interior architectural features, and relocations of walls. The project, which was "Recommended and Strongly Endorsed", will also include the restoration of historically significant spaces. The project has been in the FYIP since the 1992-1996 program.

The E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse at 333 Constitution Avenue, NW, will undergo renovations similar to the DOI building, but will require $176,000,000. The renovations for the 634,297 s.f. building were also ranked as "Recommended and Strongly Endorsed."

The National Museum of African American History and Culture was established within the Smithsonian Institution in December of 2003 by President Bush to provide a new collection and study of African American historical and cultural material. The Smithsonian Institution is requesting $250,000,000 for the programming, design, and construction of the new museum that will break ground in 2012. This funding is just half of the $500,000,000 necessary; the remaining half will be privately funded. The project, located on the corner of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, first appeared in the NCPC plan for FYs 2006-2011. According to the NCPC FCIP, "Coordination will continue to be needed to address the many complex issues at this site," thus, it was ranked as a "Project Requiring Additional Planning Coordination." According to the Smithsonian Institute, an architect will not be selected until 2009 and drawings will not be available until 2011. Under the current timeline, the museum will deliver in December 2015.

The proposed National Museum of Natural History Revitalization will cost $151,500,000 during FYs 2009-2014, and will continue the ongoing Major Capital Revitalization of the building. Renovations at the 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, site were ranked as "Recommended" and will include the restoration of antiquated plumbing, temperature control, and electric systems, the creation of a handicapped-accessible entrance from the National Mall, and the abatement and encapsulation of asbestos and lead. The project first appeared in the 2003-2008 report and has received $177,070,000 in prior funding.

Renovations on the Smithsonian Castle were "Recommended" and will cost $170,000,000 from 2009-2014. The project will include the restoration of interior spaces, replacement of mechanical and electrical systems, and the creation of handicapped accessible features. Work will be done to the facade of the 149,000 s.f. Romanesque Castle and on the overall building to bring it up to current building and fire codes. The building, which is also a National Historic Landmark, currently hosts 200 members of the Smithsonian staff and 1.6 million visitors per year.