The Historic Preservation Review Board has given a unanimous 5-0 go-ahead for the Third Church of Christ, Scientist's reconstruction design plans at 900 16
th Street. The current design, presented to the HPRB last week, has folded glass panels on the exterior that create a canopy extending out to the sidewalk at 16
th and Eye (I) Street, replacing the cold, rigid octagon structure that has been there since 1970.
Two developers,
ICG Properties and
JBG Companies, with architects from New York City-based
Robert A.M. Stern are in charge of reconstructing this Brutalist-styled church and transforming it into a more modern, warm building.
"The permits are still a long time away," said Charlie Maier, public relations manager for JBG. "It's hard to say how long this process will take, but it's a ways away."
Other architects include
Michael Vergason as the landscape architect and
Kerns Group Architects for the church's interior. The landscape plans include about 17,000 square feet of greenery, including trees and a green canopy over the nearby walkways.
According to the designs that passed the HPRB, the new church will consist of a new 125-person auditorium with an expandable seating plan of about 11,000 square feet; a reading room open to public, office space, and retail space in the ground floor, said J. Darrow Kirkpatrick, a lay leader with the church. Kirkpatrick projects demolition will probably not occur until late this year, or early next year.
After years of conflict and controversy, the HPRB finally granted the church approval for concept design plans on October 25, 2012. This latest approval helps solidify the move forward for the church reconstruction.
In 2007 the D.C. Historical Preservation Review Board awarded the church a historical landmark title, against the church's will. This landmark status created a storm of controversy between the City and the church regarding the demolition and reconstruction of the church. After appealing to the Mayor's Agent in 2009, the church won the right to move forward with permit applications.
There are a number of other Brutalist-styled structures sprinkled throughout the City—linear structures that consist of large concrete blocks and call to mind a fortress—including the Arts Center at American University, the Jefferson Building at Dupont Circle, and the National Presbyterian Church at on Nebraska Street in NW. There are other smaller buildings around Church Row where the Scientist church is located as well.