The National Capital Planning Commission voted July 9 to grant preliminary approval to President Donald Trump’s proposed Monumental Arch at Memorial Circle, moving the project through federal review.
The commission voted 8-1 for preliminary approval, with three voting commissioners present, while postponing final action until at least September to allow for more detailed consideration of legal and regulatory issues, including whether the project is subject to Washington’s Building Height Act.
“My view is that, today, we are only considering this project for preliminary approval, and as a result, it is not necessary for us to deal with this broader issue of the applicability of the Building Height Act to federal construction until our next meeting, at the earliest,” said Commission Chairman William Scharf.
Submitted by the US Department of the Interior, the proposal calls for a 250-foot-tall, granite-clad, reinforced concrete arch at Memorial Circle between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.
Design documents describe a 166-foot-wide structure with a 55-foot central opening, topped by a winged figure flanked by two eagles.
Unlike a traditional memorial, the proposed arch would function as a busy public building. Plans include five elevators, six staircases, an observation deck, exhibition space, visitor facilities, security screening facilities and mechanical support areas intended to accommodate a controlled and programmed entry experience for visitors.
The proposal has become a major civil construction project that combines vertical construction, transportation improvements and new public service infrastructure. The expanded design package shows that the project would require significant civil and transportation works in addition to the monument itself.
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A rendering illustrates the proposed 250-foot monumental arch at Memorial Circle, spanning the Arlington Memorial Bridge, as seen from the Lincoln Memorial, looking west. Preliminary approval documents envision the granite-clad, reinforced concrete structure as a busy public facility with an observation deck, exhibits and visitor services.
Image: National Capital Planning Commission
Memorial Circle would be reconfigured with new traffic signals, crosswalks, shelter islands and roadway changes to improve visitor access. During construction, portions of westbound traffic from the Arlington Memorial Bridge would be reduced, certain turning movements would be restricted, and pedestrian routes would be temporarily detoured before permanent traffic improvements are completed.
The project would also require new drinking water, sanitary sewer, electric, natural gas and telecommunications services, as Memorial Circle currently does not have the necessary systems to support a busy public facility.
Planning documents outline multiple utility routing alternatives that connect the site to existing infrastructure in Virginia and potentially via the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Project documents estimate that construction would take approximately two to three years and involve approximately 1,400 truckloads of excavated soil removed from the site and approximately 400 truckloads of imported engineered fill. Major works would include deep foundations, structural concrete, utility installation, tower cranes, site restoration and phased traffic control.
The Federal Aviation Administration concluded that the proposal would have no significant adverse effect on airspace or flight procedures at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, despite its towering height; Obstruction lighting would be required as part of the final design.
The National Park Service issued a finding of no significant impact in June, but has not released the final decision document because the consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is still ongoing.
The project’s historic preservation analysis recognizes that the proposal could adversely affect the setting and ceremonial relationship between Memorial Circle, Arlington Memorial Bridge, Arlington House, and other historic resources within the area of potential effects.
The commission is expected to review the project as early as September after further review of the Height of Buildings Act issue and the completion of additional historic preservation consultations.
