Eisenhower Memorial design by Frank Gehry has another setback
Architect Frank Gehry’s design for the planned Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in Washington has experienced another setback, with the commission behind the memorial abruptly canceling a planned Thursday presentation in front of a federal agency.
Backers of the memorial were scheduled to present Gehry’s design on Thursday to the National Capital Planning Commission, a federal body that reviews development in Washington and the surrounding area.
“A future date for review has not been scheduled. It will be determined when the applicant resubmits the project,” the commission said on its website.
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The delay is the latest speed bump for the Eisenhower Memorial, which has been plagued by delays and criticism from members of the 34th president’s family.
The Eisenhower Memorial Commission issued a statement on Tuesday saying the it has “decided to forgo appearing before NCPC on Sept. 12 in the belief that the next few months would be better spent satisfying the concerns” set forth in a report issued by the planning commission.
Among the concerns are questions about whether the materials to be used in the design have been sufficiently tested, according to published reports. There are also concerns about whether Gehry’s design fulfills the requirements of an urban park.
In June, the memorial commission voted to approve Gehry’s revised design. The estimated price tag for the memorial stands at more than $100 million, with some funding expected to come from the federal government.
Earlier this month, President Obama named former National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Bruce Cole to the memorial commission. Cole has been critical of Gehry’s design, writing in 2012 that “the nation will wind up with a monumental farce.”
Gehry’s design -- which calls for an open park-like setting -- has been divisive, with some people criticizing his decision to emphasize the late president’s upbringing in Kansas. The architect has defended his designs, saying Kansas was an important part of Eisenhower’s identity.
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New debate over Frank Gehry’s design for an Eisenhower Memorial
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Eisenhower Memorial Commission approves revised Frank Gehry design
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