Initial plans approved for Smithsonian Museum of African American History

<br/><small><a href=”http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;vpsrc=6&amp;ll=38.89125,-77.032785&amp;spn=0.00334,0.00427&amp;z=16&amp;source=embed” style=”color:#0000FF;text-align:left”>View Larger Map</a></small></div> <p>The <a href=”http://www.ncpc.gov/”>National Capital Planning Commission</a> has approved preliminary site and building plans for the <a href=”http://nmaahc.si.edu/”>National Museum of African American History and Culture</a>.</p> <p>As a response to NCPC concerns, the preliminary plans reduced the overall size of the building, the south entry porch facing Madison Drive and a water feature adjacent to Constitution Avenue. A previously proposed skylight on the 15th Street side of the building was removed.</p> <p>The 373,798 square-foot museum will be located on an approximately five-acre site on Constitution Avenue between the National Museum of American History and the Washington Monument. The design will come back before NCPC for final site and building plans at some point in late summer 2012, according to the commission.</p> <p>The plans were approved after a presentation at NCPC’s monthly meeting on Thursday. The commission also approved preliminary and final site development plans for the access road at the St. Elizabeths West Campus without a presentation. The District recently concluded public meetings on St. Elizabeths redevelopment and is expected to issue a preliminary development plan early next year.</p>