• By Stephen Staudigl
• January 04, 2018

NCPC Provides Initial Feedback on South Mall Campus Master Plan Alternatives

Washington, DC—The Smithsonian Institution is developing a master plan for its South Mall Campus. The plan seeks to meet long-term space requirements and address physical and operational deficiencies across the campus that impact visitor use and experience, as well as the Smithsonian’s ability to effectively and safely implement its programs. The master plan will guide future short- and long-term renovation and development in the 17-acre South Mall Campus over the next 20-30 years.

NCPC is the lead federal agency for National Environmental Policy Act compliance, and will evaluate the plan’s potential impacts through an environmental impact statement (EIS). Today’s meeting, an early step in the review process, provided an initial opportunity for the Commission to provide comments and feedback on the three action alternatives. Through its comments, the Commission provided direction on a series of planning and design issues for the Smithsonian Institution to consider as it develops the draft master plan.

NCPC is accepting public comments on the Draft EIS through January 16, 2018. Commissioner and public comments from the January 4 Commission meeting, and public and stakeholder feedback on the EIS, will help inform the preferred alternative and preparation of the draft master plan. NCPC anticipates reviewing this draft master plan in the spring. Individual projects within the plan will be designed and implemented later, when funding becomes available, and the Smithsonian will submit these future projects for NCPC for review and approval.

NCPC noted its support for the plan’s four primary goals: improve and expand visitor services and education; create clear entrances and connections between the museums and gardens; replace aging building mechanical systems; and preserve and protect historic buildings. The range of alternatives has evolved significantly since the Smithsonian initiated the project in response to stakeholder feedback received to date. While Alternative F is currently the Smithsonian’s preference, the Commission will not select a preferred alternative until the draft EIS public comment period has ended.

The Commission found that the master plan program and functionality must be balanced with historic preservation, planning, and urban design goals. The Commission also requested that a phasing plan be included in the draft master plan submission.

The South Mall Campus includes the Smithsonian Castle, the Quadrangle Complex (Ripley Center, Sackler Gallery, National Museum of African Art, Enid A. Haupt Garden), Freer Gallery of Art, Arts and Industries Building, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, and Ripley Garden.

The Commission then provided comments on a draft master plan for Joint Base Andrews submitted by the U.S. Air Force. The plan, referred to as an Installation Development Plan by the Air Force, assesses base-wide infrastructure systems and provides recommendations to help guide future planning efforts for the next 20-30 years. The Air Force anticipates no population or mission growth at the base during this time.

The Commission noted its support for the plan’s vision, goals, and objectives that seek to create a more sustainable and efficient base. It requested that the Air Force include installation-wide stormwater, wetlands, and circulation plans; and an up-to-date Transportation Management Plan with its next Installation Development Plan submission. The Commission also requested that the Air Force submit Area Development Plans related to each new project, and recommended that completion of an Area Development Plan for the base’s Administration and Support District take precedence due to the number of proposed projects there.

Joint Base Andrews, a 4,436-acre facility located in central Prince George’s County, Maryland, hosts 17,000 day-time workers and various commands from the Department of Defense, Maryland National Guard, Maryland State Police, and District National Guard. The last time NCPC reviewed a master plan for Joint Base Andrews was in 1990.

Before adjourning, NCPC staff presented an information presentation on the Global City Teams Challenge and Pennsylvania Avenue (PA) 2040. The Global City Teams Challenge is a four-year‐long initiative designed to help communities work together using Smart Cities solutions to address issues such as air quality, traffic management, city services, and visitor experience. The effort created Action Clusters through which communities, innovators, and providers could work together to find solutions to existing problems. PA 2040 is an Action Cluster that examined how to improve resident and visitor amenities on Pennsylvania Avenue between 17th and 20th Streets, NW.

This month’s agenda also included one consent calendar item (no presentation given):

• Preliminary and final building plans for a revolving door sign at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

• A report to the Zoning Commission of the District of Columbia regarding a First Stage Planned Unit Development Modification, Second Stage Planned Unit Development, and Related Map Amendment at Square 75, Lots 50 and 51 (George Washington University and Boston Properties), 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.