Washington, DC is one of the world’s great cities, designed as the physical expression of our nation’s democratic ideals. The heart of Washington’s symbolic and spatial fabric is its monumental core, linked to the distinctive image of the capital city and functions of the federal government. The monumental core encompasses the U.S. Capitol grounds, the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Mall, Federal Triangle, surrounding government offices and civic, cultural, and symbolic structures, and the important streets and vistas that link and celebrate our institutions. The core does not have a fixed geographic or jurisdictional boundary and continues to evolve.
The monumental core has a dynamic and synergistic relationship with the surrounding local city. It provides both inspiration and respite as the location of civic, celebratory, and commemorative events. The city provides vitality and animation as the setting for daily work, commerce, and play that are integral to urban life.
NCPC is currently advancing several projects and initiatives in the monumental core that build on prior plans for this area, particularly the 2009 Monumental Core Framework Plan.
Beautiful and functional streetscapes contribute to the identity, character, comfort, and experience of public life in the nation's capital. A consistent and cohesive palette of durable materials and well-placed trees, plants, and furnishings establish clear and coherent public spaces in the monumental core. The 1992 National Mall Streetscape Manual, as amended, currently guides streetscape design on the National Mall and vicinity where federal offices and open spaces are concentrated.
NCPC, in collaboration with an Interagency Working Group, is undertaking the Monumental Core Streetscape Project, an initiative to update the 1992 National Mall Streetscape Manual. The first phase of work focuses on development of a streetscape framework and development of lighting policy for areas within the 1992 Streetscape Manual boundary.
The Streetscape Framework identifies, categorizes, and provides principles for streets within the 1992 boundary. In a separate but concurrent effort, NCPC is also collaborating with the District of Columbia government to review, assess, and document existing guidance and current practices for streets of national significance outside the 1992 boundary. The purpose of this effort is to help unify the capital city by improving transitions and coordination.
The Lighting Policy identifies a hierarchy for illuminated elements in the monumental core and provides guidance for streetlighting in or adjacent to federal properties. This work is also being coordinating with the District of Columbia Government.
The streetscape framework and lighting policy will inform the Streetscape Manual update, which partner agencies will use to guide planning, design, construction, and maintenance to achieve coordinated and consistent streetscapes within the 1992 boundary of the monumental core and to coordinate with the District on streetscapes within the vicinity.
In November 2019, the Commission reviewed the concept plans for the Streetscape Framework and Lighting Policy. NCPC initiated a 60-day public comment period that closed on March 14, 2020.
The Streetscape Manual was first created in 1992 by Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service, Architect of the Capitol, and District Department of Transportation to guide the design and implementation of coordinated and consistent streetscapes in the National Mall and vicinity. In 2005, other agencies joined this federal-local streetscape stewardship effort including NCPC, US Commission of Fine Arts, General Services Administration, National Gallery of Art, and Smithsonian Institution. By 2012, the Streetscape Manual had successfully guided over 25 roadway projects; however, agencies recognized the need to update the Manual.
Agencies asked NCPC to lead coordination of a two-phased update. In 2013, NCPC completed phase one which included documenting existing streetscape elements, removing obsolete information, and reformatting and digitizing the Streetscape Manual. In 2017, NCPC began phase two of the Streetscape Manual Update which includes developing the following:
Urban Design Streetscape Framework, including Federal Lighting Policy
Streetscape Design Guidelines
Streetscape Construction Manual Amendments
The Streetscape Framework and Lighting Policy will be used as the basis for developing the Streetscape Design Guidelines and the Streetscape Construction Manual Amendments.
Interactive Map
Timeline
Commission Meeting
The Commission reviewed the concept plans for the Urban Design Streetscape Framework and Lighting Policy.
Demand for wireless technology and connectivity is increasing across the country, and within the National Capital Region. Cellular carriers are deploying small cell infrastructure to augment existing networks and improve capacity, speed, and reliability to meet increasing demand. The carriers propose to install approximately 2,700 small cell facilities within Washington, DC over the next five years.
Small cell infrastructure consists of lower-powered antennas that supplement existing roof mounted equipment and larger cell towers. The technology requires the facilities to be installed in closer proximity to users. Facilities will either attach to existing streetlight poles and utility poles or be deployed as standalone poles within the public rights-of-way. Because their range is smaller, each carrier will require multiple installations to meet coverage demand.
The location of small cells in public rights-of-way has the potential to affect the aesthetics and function of public streets and spaces within the nation’s capital. To address potential impacts, NCPC worked with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to develop design guidelines that inform the placement of small cell facilities through specific criteria related to context, location, and design. Installations on District owned rights-of-way are managed and permitted by DDOT.
Small cell installations on federal property are not subject to the DDOT guidelines. Like other telecommunication facilities, small cells on federal land go through a separate review process that includes working with the federal landholder and NCPC, which has an approval authority.
Timeline
CFA Commission Meeting
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts provided comments on DDOT’s Small Cell Design Guidelines version 3.0