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:
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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