NCPC approves District’s new DC Archives building plans with conditions on landscaping and community garden relocation

The National Capital Planning Commission on April 4 voted to approve preliminary and final site and building plans for a new District of Columbia Archives and Records Building to be located on land at the University of the District of Columbia’s Van Ness campus.

DGS project representative Mr. Weil told the commission the six‑level, roughly 158,000‑square‑foot facility is designed to replace the obsolete Building 41 and meet strict archival climate‑control needs while providing public space, office areas and storage. The design includes rooftop photovoltaic panels, a partial green roof and a goal of LEED Gold certification; DGS said LEED Platinum is infeasible on site because the parcel cannot accommodate the number of PV panels that would be required for full net‑zero compliance.

In public comment, Bernard Byrne urged the applicant to replace non‑native species and cultivars in the planting pool with plants native to the National Capital Region to better support pollinators. He said the submitted plant list included species that are not native to North America and urged replacement before final approval.

Commissioners praised the project’s sustainability moves and the team’s response to prior NCPC comments, especially the substantial increase in new on‑site trees (from a previous 35 to about 79 new trees) and added pollinator plants such as common milkweed. Commissioners also asked staff and the applicant to provide clearer documentation showing where the community garden displaced by the project will be relocated on campus; the design team said the relocation site is on the campus master‑plan submission and that the new area is approximately 9,000 square feet, with roughly two‑thirds (about 6,000 square feet) of the existing garden footprint accommodated there.

After deliberations — in which several commissioners encouraged continued work to increase native pollinators while balancing archival preservation needs, and one commissioner suggested softening perimeter security features so they are less obtrusive on a college campus — the commission took a roll‑call vote. The motion to approve the preliminary and final site and building plans carried; two commissioners recorded abstentions.

The commission asked staff to follow up with the applicant to provide the precise relocation plan and to identify the final planting palette proposed to remain so the commission and public can confirm native species and any cultivars that will persist. NCPC’s advisory approval moves the project forward in the District’s design and permitting process; the city would operate the facility through its Office of Public Records.

The commission’s written executive director’s recommendation, which accompanies the final package, notes the project’s balance of public access, strict archive climate controls, security needs and sustainability measures and highlights coordination with community stakeholders and other district agencies.