Vietnam Visitors Center: How do you make a building invisible?

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Vietnam Visitors Center: How do you make a building invisible?

by David Alpert • June 1, 2009 12:26 pm

In 2003, amid much controversy, Congress authorized a new structure on the Mall, near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: a visitors' center to educate tourists about the Vietnam War and the meaning of the memorial.

Conceptual view of the inside of the Visitors Center. Images from NCPC.

Responding to the recent proliferation of new memorials and growing pressure for even more, the same act of Congress also placed a moratorium on any further construction in the Mall's core, declaring the Mall a "competed civic work of art."

To keep the visitors' center from overshadowing the Vietnam Wall or other nearby memorials, Congress instructed that the building be underground, and gave the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) approval over the building.

During the subsequent years, NCPC, CFA, the National Park Service, and the veterans' groups supporting the center have debated how exactly to build an underground building the size of a supermarket and make it virtually invisible from nearby streets.

NCPC authorized the building to occupy the grassy triangle northwest of the Vietnam Wall and northeast of the Lincoln Memorial, bounded by Constitution Avenue, 23rd Street, and Henry Bacon Drive. Currently, that triangle contains softball fields, a vending kiosk, and "passive" recreational space, and is surrounded by mature elm trees. To protect recreational users and the feel of the Mall, NCPC laid out a series of requirements, including:

"The Visitor Center will be constructed underground as requried by the authorizing legislation for the project with no portion of the building and related building elements visible from any portion of the Lincon Memorial steps and podium, from Constitution Avenue, and from with in the axial view sheds of 23rd Street, NW and Henry Bacon Drive, NW."
"The Visitor Center will be designed such that light emanating from the Center's interior will not be visible from any portion of the Lincoln Memorial, from Constitution Avenue, and from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial so as not to interfere with or encroach upon the Lincoln Memorial or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial."
"The Visitor Center will not intrude into the landscape. No protrusions such as skylights, monitors, light wells, or sunken areaways, will be visible from the sidewalk surrounding the site."
"The Visitor Center design will not impede the use of the site for multi-purpose recreation on the site." NCPC also required NPS to replace any lost softball fields within a half mile of the site.

In December of 2007, the visitors' center group presented a design. Visitors would walk down stairs or a ramp to a sunken entry area, then enter the building. Inside, they would proceeed back and forth along exhibit walls that are completely underground except for long, narrow skylights to illuminate the exhibits with natural light. The building also contained several sunken courtyards.

NCPC sent the design back for further work, as it didn't comply with several of the requirements. From the Lincoln Memorial and Constitution Avenue, you could clearly see part of the building. NCPC also worried that, at night, light from inside the building would shine out from the skylights, making it especially visible.

Not all veterans support this project. At the December 2007 NCPC meeting, some veterans argued, as they had during the project's initial debate, that the Vietnam Wall needs no "interpretation," and a large explanatory center detracts from the artistic simplicity of the memorial itself. Mall advocates pointed out that if the Vietnam War needs an educational center, why not the Korean War, World War II, and on and on, which would completely overwhelm the Mall.

However, NCPC's Presidential appointees pointed out that Congress had spoken clearly, and the law does not allow NCPC to reject the project entirely. Instead, they are trying to thread the needle by allowing a 31,000 square foot building while requiring it to be virtually invisible and have almost no impact on anyone.

At that meeting, members of the NCPC board (which combines Presidential appointees, representatives of federal executive agencies and Congress, and members from the District of Columbia) debated whether this was really possible. Some members, including Harriet Tregoning, suggested that NCPC consider a "pavilion" approach, allowing a small, visible above-ground building while placing the remainder truly underground. The rest of the board rejected that approach, however.

This week, NCPC will review a new submission. According to the staff report, the revised design has improved, but still fails to comply with the requirements of being completely invisible. The applicant has added a grass berm on the eastern side to screen the entrance from the Vietnam Wall, and moved it slightly to avoid the root area of the elm trees. They've also agreed to remove one of the three skylights. However, people will still be able to see the building from the Lincoln Memorial and from Constitution Avenue. Also, between the courtyards, ramps, and skylights, there's very little space left for recreation on the site. According to the staff report, NPS has also still not responded to the requirement to replace the softball fields.

NCPC staff have a suggestion: remove the walkway from Constitution Avenue and the rest of the skylights, and shrink the open courtyard. Then, the building will be completely invisible from Constitution, and people can use more of the land for recreation.

The Board will debate the submission and the staff report on Thursday. If this meeting is anything like the last, it will have its share of fireworks and drama. And once NCPC, NPS, and the veterans backing the project finally design an invisible building, Congress should take this experience to heart and exercise uncommon restraint before authorizing any more underground museums.

14 comments — Share	— tags: NCPC, NPS, The Mall

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Comments

Personally, I had always hoped for a Metro station in the spot where the museum is supposed to go.

by Steve on Jun 1, 2009 12:42 pm

Sad reality: the Mall, East Potomac Park, and West Potomac Park, are just about full. No more space for memorials, monuments, and museums remains, not without this kind of absurd exercises in making buildings that are not buildings. This is the condition that led up to the creation of the self-effacing WWII Memorial.

NCPC had its plan to create a new federal mall along South Capitol Street, but that vision evaporated in the face of ballpark redevelopment and the Williams administration's lust to develop new tax base right here, right now, no matter the cost to the city's long-term legibility and framework.

Is there anything salvageable in the half-finished buildings and vacant lots along South Capitol? Still any possibility of making a new space for the monuments and public buildings that remain an essential part of a capital city's function?

by David Ramos on Jun 1, 2009 12:50 pm

We have a large and newly refurbished Museum of American History just a short distance from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. That's where the exhibit should be located. It would be in a highly visible, monumental building instead of an underground bunker; it will get more visitors (perhaps two million more annually); it will have better security and maintenance; its educational and memorializing purpose will have a greater reach.

Furthermore the proposed design is not only under the surface, it is in swamp fill. It will be permanently prone to water intrusion and, with global warming sea level rise, increasingly prone to flooding. Exactly the wrong place for a collection of cherished artifacts.

by Laurence Aurbach on Jun 1, 2009 1:52 pm

A beautiful addition to the VVM and the Lincoln. The exhibits will be a real learning experience www.vvmf.org

How do you create Invisible Architecture?

by Mike OToole on Jun 1, 2009 2:21 pm

The law says it has to be invisible from the surface. The architects can whine as much as they want about how nice it would be to have a courtyard, an entrace on the Mall, or skylights. No, no, no.

I don't see what's so hard about this. The solution is so simple: have the entrance be off the Mall, a block away, say adjoining the National Academies of Science building at 21st and Constitution Ave, or perhaps instead at 20th or at 22nd. Yeah, that would mean using eminent domain. But that's pretty much the only solution that Congress has made available. So use it.

by tom veil on Jun 1, 2009 2:39 pm

I say ban all Visitors Centers! A good memorial shouldn't need "interpretation," and the Vietnam Memorial is a great example of that. Visitors Centers are always awkward afterthoughts and judging by the plans, this one for the Vietnam Memorial is no exception. They usually house kitschy often over-the-top self serving exhibitions that invariably look dated really quickly. The internet seems like a much better location for the explanations and interpretations -- they could be modified as our understanding of historical events and ways of celebrating them change -- and the Museum of American History (as suggested by Laurence Aurbach) a much more appropriate place for artifacts that have real national significance.

I think this Visitors Center proposal will diminish the emotional power of the memorial; it will diminish the meaning and the experience of the Mall with too many little utilitarian structures -- ramps and retaining walls and skylights and such -- and probably make landscaping and maintaining the Mall more difficult and expensive.

Why isn't all of this -- the Memorial included -- not in Arlington National Cemetery anyway? Seems like the Mall should be reserved for events of the greatest historic significance and I am not sure the Korean or Vietnam wars meet that criteria.

Ron Eichner

by Ron Eichner on Jun 1, 2009 3:02 pm

Ron,

Why not in Arlington? Here's why:

1. Arlington is rapidly running out of space as it is. The priority for Arlington must always be the burial of soldiers killed in action and honorable veterans, not large memorials.

2. While Arlington gets its fair share of tourists, most of the cemetery is, as it should be, eerily silent and empty. Arlington is an actual cemetary with funerals taking place several times a day and family members coming to share private time at the graves. Do we want that interrupted by busloads of even more tourists?

3. While the policy goals of the Vietnam and Korean wars may be a matter of debate, I don't think you would find too many people that would think that the individual sacrafices of the soldiers (many of whom were drafted) are not worthy of honor or are not of the "greatest historical significance." One of the reasons the Vietnam memorial works so well is its focus not on the battles, or the war itself, but on the individual men and women who gave their lives. I know people who went to jail protesting the Vietnam war who now stop there every time they are in DC.

The WWII memorial is different, as it should be, because the war, and the cause was different. WWII was a triumph and is celebrated as one. The Korean memorial tries to be all things to all people and fails do really do anything. However, it still deserves to be on the Mall.

by tivonia on Jun 1, 2009 3:41 pm

We can never, ever do enough to honor and thank those who gave their lives during the Vietnam War--as well as the families who live with the sacrifice to this day. I like the idea of having a place where we can learn some of the stories behind the names on the Wall. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln--two great American wartime leaders who are memorialized on the National Mall--knew how important it is to respect those who serve in their country's armed forces. I'll bet if they were alive today, they'd support the center.

by Linda Kelly on Jun 1, 2009 4:06 pm

If it's against the law to build on the mall, clearly lawmakers are have been so ashamed of the buildings that we've gotten on the mall recently that we have to make the new ones invisible.

See also the Capitol Visitors Center. One has to wonder if the wings to the Capitol were built today we wouldn't have Senators and Congressmembers but Morelocks instead.

by Boots on Jun 1, 2009 4:29 pm

Maya Lin, the original design competition winner for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was special advisor in the selection process for an architect for The Education Center. This talented committee, with Ms. Lin as special advisor, selected Polshek Partnership LLP, architects and Ralph Appelbaum Associates Inc.., exhibit designers. I had the privilege of hearing this committee discuss the many concerns regarding construction, etc. and walked away confidant, 'no stone had been left unturned'.

As one that annually visits The Wall and continues to educate others about the sacrifices of my brother, friends and their brother's whose names are on The Wall, I've witnessed first-hand students becoming mesmerized as they would listen to the story behind the name(s). After visiting with one classroom of High School Seniors, I was impacted by their being riveted in their seats as they listened. They laughed along with me when I would tell some of the pranks my brother pulled as a kid, what led him to enter the military and what made him knowingly and willingly use his body as a shield to save a soldier he did not know. Several of these students shared with me deep personal feelings of what this meant to them. The American Flag took on an entirely new meaning for them and so did The Vietnam Memorial Wall.

Over the years I have seen many personal artifacts left at The Wall, i.e. High School Diplomas, wedding rings, Purple Heart Medals, military uniforms, dog tags and the list goes on. I've often thought it a shame these items are tucked away in some warehouse never for anyone to see. The Education Center will not only put faces and lives behind the over 58,000 names on The Wall, it will help us to be ever mindful of the incredible sacrifice made in the name of freedom.

This is not an Education Center just for those on The Vietnam Wall, but for those that served in all of America's wars. My Step-father served in WWII and Vietnam and I am thankful to know he too will never be forgotten. We must never forget what these men and women have done for us. They gave their all for us and the least we can do is share their stories - lest we never forget.

Respectfully submitted,

by Judy C. Campbell on Jun 1, 2009 7:08 pm

This center will become internationally proclained! Bringing the "invisible" into the VISIBLE is a stroke of pure genius. I pray I live long enough to see my son Sp/4 Keith A. Campbell, DSC, BSM, PH, displayed there.

by Esther B. Campbell Gates on Jun 1, 2009 7:40 pm

DEFEND THE WALL for it is the ultimate example of remembering those who gave their lives for our country in equal honor. There is no identifiable reference to race, age, rank, nor there is an obvious distinction as to date of death nor of gender.

It is a timeless monument that has embraced millions in a unique way and will continue to do it into eternity if it is allowed to speak for itself.

How can we introduce an entity like the Visitor Center to distract from that unifying message, how can we expect the presentation of pictures to be equitable when you are dealing with 58,261 faces, how can we expect the stories to be presented at this Visitor Center to be a fair representation of 58,261 lives, who will choose whose face and whose story is more worthy to be presented to those who will come. What will be this story of patriotism and sacrifice.

And the most important thing is that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and its supporters in 2006, through legislation they sponsored in Congress, were willing to strip from the Families of those who we honor on the"Wall", the fellow veterans who served with those "Who gave their all", and our fellow citizens, the ability to participate and have a say from how this Visitor Center came about. This most disgraceful attempt dishonored those who we so revere on the "Wall", for they gave their lives attempting to deliver the freedom to participate in their government in foreign lands, yet the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and its supporters were determined to take that right away from us within our borders.

How can we trust the judgment of those who so readily are willing to deny us citizens of this nation what our special citizens on the "Wall" had died for delivering it in a foreign land.

Let the "Wall" tell its own story and take the interpretation away from it and incorporate it into the whole story of sacrifice throughout the history of our nation in a National Military Honor and History Museum as proposed by Equal Honor For All.

You will find details of the attempted highjacking of our rights to participate in our government, the design flaws of the Visitor Center, and the proposal for the National Military Honor and History Museum at www.equalhonor.org

by Ray Saikus - Equal Honor For All on Jun 2, 2009 12:52 am

The Education Center will not detract from The Wall as Ray Saikus suggested to me when I spoke to him near Thunder Alley in DC on the 30th of May. It will only enhance the learning experience for visitors to The Wall, especially those who were born after this controversial war was fought. I also am a substitute teacher in the Loudoun County School System and know that the Vietnam War is covered by only one or two pages of their history text books. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War(Long Binh USARV Casualty Branch 1969-1970). I have also visited The Wall on many occasions since 1994 and take part in ceremonies on holidays. The Wall is the most visited memorial in DC and I have spoken to people from all over the world who come to see it. I was there when it was unveiled and remember the controvery that took place then. But I have also seen the welcome additions of the three soldiers, Women's Memorial and In Memory plaque(to honor thoses who died as a result of their service in Vietnam but whose names cannot go on The Wall). All of these addiitons have only served to enhance the Wall as will the Education Center. Many people have questions about who these soldiers were. These questions could be answered by the Education Center. Also many items are left at the Wall daily that could be displayed in the Education Center. The fact that it is underground does not detract from the significance of the Education Center; consider how many other displays are underground in DC. It also is a plus that it is so close to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial itself. Yes, there are those veterans who are against this center as there were when the Wall was originally built but the fact that Rolling Thunder, Time Warner and many others have already donated funds for this priavatley financed Education Center and the fact that many high-ranking military officers and congressmen support it speaks volumes. Instead of trying to stop this Education Center we should all be supporting and applauding Jan Scruggs for his determintaion and perseverance to make sure that the sacrifices made by the 58,261 members of the military whose names are on The Wall will never be forgotten.

Respectfully submitted,

Anthony V. Fasolo

LTC, USA (ret)

by Anthony V. Fasolo on Jun 2, 2009 10:49 am

I served as a nurse at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in 1969-1970. My year on the Wall begins on Panel 28 West and extends to Panel 12 West.

It seems that a number of organizations are less interested in mitigating any impact the Memorial Center may have on the long altered "historic landscape" and much more interested in trying to find ways to stop this project and/or promote their own. The risk of flooding continues to be raised in spite of evidence to the contrary, as it was before the World War II Memorial was built. The claim that the Memorial Center will detract from the Wall is utter nonsense – the Memorial Center will provide a context for the young people of this nation to understand how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial helped bring closure to a tumultuous and bitter period in our history and how it continues to remind this nation of the service and sacrifice of the men and women who choose to serve this country. The Wall will remain as it has always been – a place of quiet contemplation and remembrance, where each visitor incorporates the experience into the fabric of his or her own life. The Memorial Center is separate and will supplement and complement the experience of a visit to the Wall, but never replace it.

The Memorial Center will provide faces for the names on the Wall and help visitors learn what those names represent and how and why the Wall became a symbol of healing. It is a fitting use of space on the National Mall and I think Abraham Lincoln would find such a center to be a worthy neighbor.

by Sara McVicker on Jun 2, 2009 1:16 pm