At its monthly meeting on September 4, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) heard an update on Frank Gehry’s embattled design for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C. Craig Webb of Gehry Partners presented a revised design with significant differences from the one the commission rejected, by a vote of 7 to 3, back in April. Two of the three metal tapestries that formed Gehry’s most distinctive architectural move are gone. There are now eight columns defining the four-acre site instead of 10, and the one at the northwest corner has been moved back from Maryland Avenue, in response to the commission’s complaint that it obstructed the view to the U.S. Capitol.
Acknowledging that Gehry’s changes are substantial, some members of the commission signaled that they are ready to move forward with the new design—although as commissioner Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) noted, the changes won’t satisfy those who oppose the core concept, and funding for the $144 million project remains a major hurdle. “I’m prepared to support it,” Issa said, adding, “I believe our support would still face a number of challenges that would delay it.”
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