The long-awaited greater Washington, DC, chapter has finally taken flight. The chapter has been meeting monthly for the past year and now has over 50 members. Docomomo US/DC is dedicated to increasing public awareness, appreciation and protection of Modern architecture, landscapes, neighborhoods and sites in Washington D.C. and surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia.
Photo (left): July Chapter meeting attendees in front of the Capitol Skyline Hotel designed by Morris Lapidus, 1961. Photo Credit: Colin MacKillop
The chapter holds monthly meetings in and around Washington, DC—most recently at the Morris Lapidus-designed Capitol Skyline Hotel—and regularly partners with other preservation organizations to sponsor events that educate the public about importance modern-era buildings and sites. Docomomo DC recently formed and elected its inaugural board. The founding members of the board are John Burns, Cecille Chen, Jeremiah Huth, Thomas Jester, Clare Kelly, Richard Longstreth, Liz Meitner, Marcus Monroe, Scott Paden, and Michael Shapiro.
Docomomo DC recently wrote in support of the landmark nomination for Capitol Park Tower, located in Southwest DC, which the DC Historic Preservation Review Board recently voted to designate. Designed by Chloethiel Woodard Smith in 1962, the complex features a landscape by Dan Urban Kiley. Docomomo DC is actively following the plans for the renovation of the Mies-designed MLK Library. Docomomo DC will act as consulting party this fall as the Section 106 process is initiated and the first concept designs are presented to the public at the Commission of Fine Arts.
In September, Docomomo DC is partnering with APT-DC to co-sponsor a regional symposium entitled The Challenges of Preserving Modern Materials and Assemblies. To be held on Friday, September 26th at the AIA Headquarters in Washington, DC, this full-day conference will address the challenges of preserving and conserving materials of the modern movement.
Docomomo DC will be participating in Tour Day on October 11th. Watch for more details about a tour of Southwest that is being organized and will be sponsored in partnership with the DC Preservation League. In Montgomery County, MNCPPC’s Montgomery Modern Initiative and will be partnering with AIA/PV and Docomomo DC to sponsor a bike tour of Charles Goodman neighborhoods and the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church. Please help us spread the word about these events when the details are announced.
Planning has also begun to develop and sponsor a lecture series, to be held annually as the “Charles Goodman” lecture. Not surprisingly, the inaugural lecture will focus on Charles Goodman and will be given by board member John Burns, FAIA, FAPT.
Photo (right): Chloethiel Smith with model of Harbour Square. Photo Credit: DC Preservation League
You can follow Docomomo DC on Facebook and on Twitter to stay on top of the latest preservation news and local preservation-related events.
To contact Docomomo DC via email, write to Tom Jester, the chapter’s Coordinator at tjester(at)quinnevans.com.