Renwick Gallery Smithsonian American Art Museum Exterior

Renwick Gallery Smithsonian American Art Museum Exterior Permanent Signage Program National Capital Planning Commission Submission Preliminary and Final October 5, 2017 Exterior Permanent Signage Program at the Renwick Gallery Smithsonian American Art Museum 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20006

Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian Facilities 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 5001 MRC 511, P.O. Box 37021 Washington, DC 20013

Jane Passman Senior Facilities Master Planner Smithsonian Institution 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 5001 Washington, DC 20024 202.633.6549 [email protected]

Carly Bond Historic Preservation Specialist Smithsonian Institution 202.633.6535 [email protected]

Table of Contents Project Report – 3 Existing Conditions and Historic Preservation Documentation – 4 Environmental Documentation – 10 Proposed Design Freestanding Signs – 11 Proposed Design Transom Signage – 14 Rendering - 16

2 Project Report

The Renwick Gallery was originally built by William Wilson Corcoran to house his personal art collection, and was constructed in 1859-61. The building, designed by James Renwick, Jr., in the Second Empire style, was occupied by the Union Army during the Civil War, and did not open until 1874 as the nation’s first public art museum.

The property was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1965, and is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum dedicated to American crafts and decorative arts of the 19th to 21st centuries. The Renwick Gallery is a listed National Historic Landmark (1971), listed in the National Register of Historic Places (1969), listed in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites (1964), and is a contributing building to the Lafayette Square National Historic Landmark District (NHL and NRHP).

The building was recently revitalized and restored in 2015 under a 32 million dollar significant renovation, which included replacing outdated mechanical systems, the installation of an elevator and penthouse with limited visibility, exterior and interior restoration work, upgrading building systems, and improved universal accessibility. The renovation project was awarded LEED silver certification in July 2017.

Photographs of Project Completion, 2016

3 Existing Conditions and Historic Preservation Documentation

The renovation work was federally and privately funded, which included a “Save America’s Treasures” grant from the National Park Service which could be applied to certain aspects of the project provided the work met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties The Smithsonian initiated Section 106 consultation for the building renovation, and there was a “no adverse effect” determination from the DC State Historic Preservation Office dated July 31, 2013.

In preparation for the Gallery’s reopening to the public, the logo, signage and branding of the museum were redesigned as an expression of its mission. In 2015, two freestanding internally illuminated signs were installed behind the areaway ironwork on Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW, and a temporary illuminated sign on the upper portion of the façade above the entrance. The signs were installed after the approval processes, and when the renovation work was substantially complete. The signage was not reviewed by any agencies, including the NPS which was the grant awarding agency.

The upper sign was removed from the Pennsylvania Avenue façade in August 2016. After consultation with the National Park Service (grant awarding agency) and the DC SHPO, SI reopened the Section 106 process in 2016 to address this change in initial program, and to evaluate the effect of the remaining freestanding signs on the building and the Lafayette Square Historic District. It was determined that the signs result in an adverse effect, due to their size and internal lighting feature. Areaway Freestanding Signs, 2016

Gallery Logo and Rebranding, 2017 Removal of the Upper Façade Sign, 2016

4 Existing Conditions and Historic Preservation Documentation

The site has unique security constraints and visual impediments from the high security essential to the surrounding government buildings, including the White House, Blair House and several Executive Office Buildings. Pennsylvania Avenue is frequently closed for dignitary visits or other special events, which requires full or partial closure of the Avenue, and access to the Gallery’s main entrance. Challenges from the surroundings include bollards, heavy police presences, and high security buildings inaccessible to the public. The Smithsonian standard pylon signage type was not permissible in this high security area. Visible signage is necessary to show visitors that this building is open to the public, even when the main entrance is physically or visually blocked.

Security Vehicles Regularly Parked West of the Pennsylvania Avenue Bollards, 2017

SI Standard Program Signage Pylon – Not permitted for the Renwick Gallery due to proximity to secure Federal buildings.

Examples of Typical Security Presence on Pennsylvania Avenue, 2017

5 Existing Conditions and Historic Preservation Documentation

The Smithsonian held a public consulting parties meeting on November 17, 2016, and reopened the Section 106 process with the DC SHPO with a letter dated December 19, 2016.

6 Existing Conditions and Historic Preservation Documentation

In addition to the site’s security constraints, the commercial character of the area, signage types, and night light levels within the Historic District were considered and discussed with the consulting parties. The Renwick is located at the southwest edge of the district in close proximity to the commercial corridors of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Night lighting levels in the district presented strong façade uplighting from visible fixtures. Existing permanent signage tends toward traditional bronze plaques, freestanding or affixed to the building or ironwork. In addition to the Renwick Gallery’s temporary exhibit banners, some institutions in the district, such as the White House Historical Association at 748 Jackson Place, use plastic banners attached to ironwork for temporary signage.

Adjacent Commercial Character 17th Street Night Lighting Level, 2017

Renwick Gallery Night Façade Lighting, 2017 Decatur House Temporary Signage Post Mounted Signage in the Historic District, 2017

7 Existing Conditions and Historic Preservation Documentation

Lafayette Square National Historic Landmark District Boundary Map Red Shape Indicates Approximate Extent of Visibility for the Proposed Freestanding Signs The comments received from the November 2016 consulting parties meeting, and informal agency consultation in March and June 2016, resulted in the determination that the existing freestanding illuminated signs have an adverse effect on the building and the Lafayette Square Historic District. Consulting parties asked the Smithsonian to consider the following in revising the building’s exterior signage program: • Reduce the size of the signs • Propose one sign only on 17th Street NW • Consider other lighting options • Consider reducing the overall amount of signage on Pennsylvania Avenue façade • Internally illuminated signage of any type has an adverse effect on the Historic District

As required to close out the NPS grant, the Smithsonian entered into an agreement that the signage would be revised to reach a determination of “no adverse effect” with the DC SHPO and the NPS. The proposed permanent signage program (described on subsequent pages) was presented at a public consulting parties meeting on August 3, 2017, with formal concurrence on a “no adverse effect” determination received in August 2017.

8 Existing Conditions and Historic Preservation Documentation

Signed NPS “No Adverse Effect” Concurrence Signed DC SHPO “No Adverse Effect” Concurrence

9 Environmental Documentation

The proposed signage program, having been found to have “no adverse effect” on the Renwick Gallery and the surrounding National Historic Landmark District, did not require an Environmental Assessment under NCPC’s NEPA process.

Local Regulations The proposed signage program meets the following regulations: • District of Columbia Municipal Regulations 10A – Chapter 20 • Shipstead-Luce Act – Commission of Fine Arts

It has been determined in working with the District of Columbia agencies that the building’s projecting corner mansards and areaway are grandfathered conditions that fall within the public right of way. Therefore, the 17th Street sign is located in public space, and the Smithsonian is concurrently preparing an application for a permit from the DC Public Space Committee. The Smithsonian is also concurrently preparing a submission to the Commission of Fine Arts for Final Approval.

Renwick Gallery

Plat Map, 1965 Rendering of Proposed Sign, Pennsylvania Avenue

10 Proposed Design – Freestanding Signs

The existing signs measure 19’4” in width by 3’ in height, with each sign measuring 58 square feet in area. The proposed signs will measure 12’3” in width by 1’11” in height, with each sign measuring 23.5 square feet in area. The letter size will not exceed 18” in height. The proposed signs consist of a 60% reduction in scale from the existing signs.

Two freestanding signs mounted on the existing posts behind the areaway ironwork are proposed, one situated at the west corner of the Pennsylvania Avenue façade, and one situated at the south corner of the 17th Street façade. The signs will be centered between the sandstone pilasters and below the windows of the corner mansard on both elevations. The signs will be mounted to the existing posts installed into non-historic concrete paving. The signs will not directly obscure any significant architectural features of the building, and are reversible conditions.

Full Size Paper Mock-up of the Proposed Sign Attached to the Existing Pennsylvania Avenue Sign

Proposed Plan

11 Proposed Design – Design Details of the Freestanding Signs

Each sign panel will feature a dark gray finish color (CM499-G3), with aluminum channel letters attached directly to the sign panel. The sign panel will be 3.25” in depth, and the channel letters 1.25” in depth. The dimensional letters will feature a white finish color on the letter faces, and a red finish color on the dimensional returns (Pantone 485). The font is inspired by the historic sandstone letting on the Pennsylvania Avenue façade.

Sign Elevation Sign Section

Dimensional Modeling of the Sign and Lettering

12 Proposed Design – Renderings of the Freestanding Signs

Existing Sign – 17th Street Facade Proposed Sign Rendering – 17th Street Facade

Existing Sign – Pennsylvania Avenue Facade Proposed Sign Rendering – Pennsylvania Avenue Facade

13 Proposed Design – Transom Signage

During the Section 106 consultation process, the Smithsonian received comments that the Pennsylvania Avenue façade is currently visually cluttered with signage. Currently on the façade are two fence mounted signage plaques, several small fence mounted signage plaques, and façade banners that temporarily display exhibition information. To reduce visual clutter on this façade, the Gallery proposes to remove the two large fence mounted signage plaques, and to incorporate this signage information in the glazed transom above the main entrance. This design was inspired by the signage in the glazed transom prior to the building renovation. Of the small fence mounted signage, only the National Historic Landmark plaque will remain on the fence.

Existing Pennsylvania Avenue Façade Signage Transom Signage Pre-Renovation

Detail Photographs of the Existing Fence Mounted Signage Plaques – To Be Removed

14 Proposed Design – Transom Signage Details

The transom signage will be surface applied to the glazing, and will feature a bronze color to complement the finish of the main entrance doors.

Transom Sign Elevation

Rendering of the Proposed Transom Signage

15 Proposed Rendering – Pennsylvania Avenue Facade

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