National Capital Planning Commission1 File: 7545April 4, 2019 | File: 7545

United States Department of the Interior

Approval of Final Site and Building Plans

14th and K Streets, NW, Washington DC

Franklin Park Rehabilitation

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Project Summary:NCPC File Number:

NCPC Review Officer:

Session:

Applicant Request:

NCPC Review Authority:

Commission Meeting Date:

Project Summary

The National Park Service (NPS), the District of Columbia (DC) and the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) formed a partnership in 2012 to revitalize Franklin Park, an historic urban park occupying an entire city block of 4.79 acres in DowntownWashington. It is the second largest NPS square in downtown, providing a unique opportunity to serve national tourism as well as local community needs. The park is located in a thriving commercial district and growing residential area three blocks northeast of the White House. It is a mobility hub for 3 Metro Rail lines, 16 Metro Bus lines, a DC Circulator line, and micro-transportation options.

7545

Sarah Ridgely

Open Session

Approval of Final Site and Building Plans

40 U.S.C. § 8722(b)(1) and (d)

April 4, 2019

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Project SummaryThe District has experienced significant population growth downtown in recent years, resulting in increased demand for high quality open space. Currently, Franklin Park is in disrepair and does not meet today’s diverse urban park needs.

Changes since the December 2018 submission include:

• Refined café pavilion design including materials palette, rainscreen and restroom layout

• Refined children’s garden design

• Refined central fountain and plaza design to preserve historic coping while adding interactive, flexible space

• Updated landscape design including tree canopy and understory plantings

• Updated paving details and additional sidewalk area to accommodate people queuing for buses and food trucks

• New park lighting design and furnishings

• New interpretive features

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Location Map

Site Location

Location Map

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Location Map

Site Location

K Street

I Street14

thSt

reet

13hStreet

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Existing Conditions

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Existing Site Plan

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Final Site Plan

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Final Site Plan (2019)Revised Preliminary Site Plan (2018)

Site Plan Updates

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Café Pavilion and Plaza

Final Site Plan (2019)

Revised Preliminary Site Plan (2018)

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Café Layout - Internal

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Restrooms – Key Elements

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Restrooms – Access Points

View from the café entrance View from the park entrance

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Café Layout - External

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View looking south

Café – Views from Franklin Park

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View looking southwest

Café – Views from Franklin Park

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View looking northwest

Café – View from Eye Street, NW

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Café Materials

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Children’s Garden

Revised Preliminary Site Plan (2018) Final Site Plan (2019)

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Children’s Garden - Play Experience

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Children’s Garden - Space Program

Site Design

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Children’s Garden – Slide

Site Design Section

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Children’s Garden – Balance/Climb/Exploratory Play

Balance/Climb The Nest & Animal Tracks

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Children’s Garden – Sound Play

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Children’s Garden – Surfaces and Seating

Site Plan

Polystar-bound rubber mulch at slide

Bench seating

Gravel surface

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Central Fountain and Plaza

Revised Preliminary Site Plan (2018) Final Site Plan (2019)

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Children’s Play AreaCentral Fountain – 2018 Design Study

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Central Fountain – Design Approach

• The fountain’s elliptical form is integrated with the park’s surrounding spaces and walks

• The coping’s Neoclassical profile and mannered outline imbue the fountain with historic authenticity

• The fountain’s small, widely spaced jets do not establish a strong visual anchor

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Central Fountain – Design Approach

Desired Outcomes:1. Restore the historic elliptical fountain

2. Incorporate bracketing play deck fountains

3. Establish visual harmony between the two

4. Preserve open, flexible space

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Central Fountain – Physical Changes

1. Restore and reuse the stone coping

2. Lift the basin floor for a shallower depth

3. Enhance the fountain’s jet expressions

4. Incorporate fountain lighting

5. Install an improved fountain mechanical system

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Central Fountain and Play Fountain Relationship• Centrality, hierarchic scale and purity of form can establish the historic fountain’s primacy in the park

• By subordinate scale and sympathetic ‘otherness,’ the play fountains can form a harmonic relationship with the main, central fountain

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Central Fountain – Jet Options

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Play Fountains – Jet Options and Inspiration

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Fountain and Central Plaza Design – Form Exploration

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Fountain and Central Plaza Design

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Fountain and Central Plaza Design

Proportion

Play Fountain - Scale

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Fountain and Central Plaza Design

Aerial ViewPlan View

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Fountain and Central Plaza Design - Materials

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Landscape Design

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Landscape Design – Tree Canopy

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Landscape Design – Café Pavilion and Plaza

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Landscape Design – Central Fountain and Plaza

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Landscape Design – Children’s Garden

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Landscape Design – Site Perimeter

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Grading Study

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Stormwater Management Regs and Goals

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Paving/Sidewalk Details

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Additional Sidewalk Space and Bike Racks

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Park Lighting and Furnishings

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Park Lighting and Furnishings

Built-in benches and curbs

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Park Lighting and Furnishings

Free-standing furnishings Bench study

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Park Lighting and Furnishings – Lighting DiagramLegend

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Park Lighting and Furnishings – Lighting Examples

Legend

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Interpretive Features

MOA – Interpretation- Exhibits include information about

the history of the park and/or surrounding area

- May install a historical timeline within the pavement area to reflect site history

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Interpretive Features