Monumental Core Streetscape Project: Lighting Policy and Framework Washington, DC Information Presentation National Capital Planning Commission 1 NationalDate: April Capital 4, 2019 Planning | File: Commission7886 File: 7886 Streetscape Manual (1992) and Streetscape Framework (2018) 1) Urban Design Streetscape Framework including Lighting 2) Streetscape Design Guidelines 3) Streetscape Construction Manual Radiating & Edging 4) MOU Connecting & Traversing Guide Streetscape Update Local Purpose Statement: provide guidelines for a coordinated and consistent streetscape treatment for roadways in the central area of the city in the vicinity of the National Mall. 2 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Overview Overview 1. Why do we need a lighting policy now? 2. Why is the lighting policy important? 3. What is the lighting policy and framework? 4. What are the foundations for the work? 5. Where does it apply? 6. What are the proposed policies and framework? 3 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 City’s Smart Street Lighting Project Credit: DDOT/OP3 4 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Streetlight Fixture Ownership Streetlight Fixture Ownership National Capital Planning Commission 5 areas of potential ownership overlap File: 7886 Capital City Lighting Credit: Architect of the Capitol Nighttime aerial view looking northwest at the U.S. Capitol Building and Washington Monument. 6 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Capital City Lighting Credit: BigBus Tours Nighttime view of Washington, DC’s monumental core from Virginia. 7 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Existing Conditions U.S. Capitol Washington Monument • District: Yellow- orange high- Jefferson Memorial pressure sodium light. Lincoln Memorial Arlington House • National Mall and Parks: Whiter metal halide light. Buildings illuminated in white light. White House Credit: Google commons Nighttime Aerial view looking southeast from 30,000 ft elevation (date: 2012). The metal halide fixtures in the Monumental Core appear distinctly ‘whiter’ than the standard high-pressure sodium lights in the rest of the District. 8 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Illustration of Future Conditions U.S. Capitol Washington Monument Jefferson Memorial Lincoln Memorial Arlington House Disclaimer: Image for White illustrative purposes only. House Credit: Google commons Nighttime Aerial view looking southeast from 30,000 ft elevation (date: 2012). The metal halide fixtures in the Monumental Core appear distinctly ‘whiter’ than the standard high-pressure sodium lights in the rest of the District. 9 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Lighting Policy & Framework 10 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Capital City Lighting Plans • London, United Kingdom More Detail City of London • Existing lighting conditions analysis and observations • Lighting vision and objectives • Technical lighting recommendations for structures, landscapes, and streetscapes • Ottawa, Canada National Capital Commission • Existing lighting conditions analysis and observations • Lighting vision and principles • Sector lighting plans and identification of priority projects Level of Detail Level • Canberra, Australia National Capital Authority Less Detail • Lighting policies • Visual nighttime hierarchy • Conceptual framework map 11 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Streetscape Framework Radiating & Edging Connecting & Traversing Local 12 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Lighting Technology Evolution District Lights Federal Lights District & Federal Lights Yellow-Orange Pure-White Warm White Mercury Vapor High Carbon Pressure Metal Sodium Halide LED Gaslight Arc Incandescent Vapor Sodium 1840s 1910s 1915 1923 1968 1990s 2010s 13 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Historic Fixtures & Lighting Plans Millet’s Bacon’s Pennsylvania Avenue Lighting Plan CFA Conceptual Lighting Plan Washington Globe Twin-20 1910 1923 1977 1987 1992 14 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Project Area Focus area within the monumental core White House Federal Triangle U.S. National Mall Capitol Arlington National Cemetery 15 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Current Lighting Policies Current Federal Lighting Policies: Current Local Lighting Policies: • Urban Design Element: 2 policies • Urban Design Element: 2 policies • Environment Element: 1 policy • Environment Element: 1 policy • Parks and Open Space Element: 6 policies 16 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Goals for Lighting Guidance 1. Create a lighting hierarchy that respects and protects symbolic meaning and nighttime appearance. 2. Recognize the nighttime appearance of the existing urban context. 3. Address contemporary street lighting issues. 4. Build upon the capital city’s historic lighting plans. 17 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Proposed Lighting Guidance U.S. Capitol Union Station National Gallery of Art Tier 1 Criteria: Tier 2 Criteria: Tier 3 Criteria: • Nationally symbolic meaning • Nationally or locally symbolic • Nationally or locally important • Critical to image and identity meaning • Symbolic meaning or visually • Visually prominent structures • Important to image and identity prominent structures • On a major axis or entry point • Visually prominent structures • Civic uses • Identified in policies or historic plans 18 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Lighting Policy & Framework Addresses: • Structures: monuments, memorials, civic buildings, and bridges • Landscapes: parks and open spaces • Streetscapes: avenues and streets 19 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Structures: monuments, memorials, civic buildings, and bridges 20 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Structures Current Federal Policy: UD.B.1.5: Utilize building, street, and exterior lighting that respects the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument as the most prominent features in the nighttime skyline. Illuminated Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol dome Legend Structures Tier 1 (7 buildings. Ex: White House, Lincoln Memorial) Disclaimer: Represents symbolic Tier 2 (17 buildings. Ex: Portrait Gallery, Union Station) importance and visual prominence. Does National Capital Planning Commission 21 Tier 3 (49 buildings. Ex: Smithsonian Castle, Federal Triangle) not represent brightness. File: 7886 Structures National Cathedral The Basilica Frederick Douglass House Legend Structures Tier 1 (7 buildings. Ex: White House, Lincoln Memorial) Disclaimer: Represents symbolic Tier 2 (17 buildings. Ex: National Cathedral, The Basilica) importance and visual prominence. Does National Capital Planning Commission 22Tier 3 (49 buildings. Ex: St. Elizabeths, Frederick Douglass House) not represent brightness. St. Elizabeths File: 7886 Structures Architectural Lighting Building: U.S. Capitol Dome Building: National Portrait Gallery Building: U.S. Institute of Peace Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 23 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Structures New York City Washington DC Credit: BigBus Tours Pittsburgh Credit: Shutterstock 24 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Structures Building: Building: Building: Hirshhorn Kennedy White Museum Center House Event: Event: Event: Art Honors Marriage Installation Ceremony Equality Duration: Duration: Duration: apx 8 apx 1 week 1-2 nights weeks 25 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Landscapes: parks and open spaces 26 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Landscapes Current Federal Policy: POS.A.14: Maintain the dark, minimally lit setting of the National Mall, East Potomac Park, Columbia Island, and adjacent parkland. POS.B.14: Minimize light pollution in and adjacent to parks and open spaces, with special consideration for natural parks and environmentally sensitive areas. View to the Washington Monument from Constitution Gardens Legend Landscapes Tier 1 (17 landscapes. Ex: National Mall, Arlington Cemetery) Disclaimer: Represents symbolic Tier 2 (11 landscapes. Ex: East Potomac Park, Rock Creek Park) importance and visual prominence. Does National Capital Planning Commission 27Tier 3 (5 landscapes. Ex: Meridian Hill Park, Marion Park) not represent brightness. File: 7886 Landscape Settings Nationally Significant Open Space Urban Constitution Gardens Farragut Square Natural/Waterfront Residential West Potomac Park Logan Circle 28 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Landscape Settings Potomac River Legend Landscape Settings National Open Space (Ex: National Mall, Capitol Square) Urban (Ex: Judiciary Square, Franklin Park, Columbus Circle) Natural/Waterfront (Ex: George Washington Parkway, Anacostia Park) Residential (Ex: Logan Circle, Meridian Hill Park, Eastern Market Park) 29 National Capital Planning Commission AnacostiaFile: 7886 River Landscapes Existing Conditions Up-lighting the Night Sky: • National Mall and Parks: dimmer than surrounding urban areas. • District: unshielded light shines brighter into the night sky. • VA & MD: shielded light does not shine upward into the night sky. Credit: Scott Kelly, NASA. Washington, DC seen from space in 2016. The demarcation between the unshielded lighting within District boundaries and shielded lighting in Virginia and Maryland is clear. 30 National Capital Planning Commission File: 7886 Landscapes Environmental Considerations Existing Light Specifications BUG ratings glare NOTE: The intention of the light is for 85% of the light to be cast downward and 15% cast upward. Should an