Architect revises design for Eisenhower Memorial

WASHINGTON Architect Frank Gehry is revising the design for a memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower near the National Mall because of objections that delayed the project.

On Thursday, Gehry's Los Angeles-based team proposed eliminating metal tapestries on the sides of the memorial square, along with some columns. The designers are trying to win approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. The federal panel rejected a design in April.

Three stainless steel tapestries depicting the Kansas landscape of Ike's boyhood home were part of Gehry's original design. With two removed, one long tapestry would remain as a backdrop for a memorial park. The site includes statues of Eisenhower as president and World War II general.

Eisenhower Memorial Commission spokeswoman Chris Kelley Cimko said the group hopes the changes help to move the project forward.

Even with the changes, some critics oppose the use of tapestries and columns in the memorial.

Justin Shubow of the National Civic Art Society said the Kansas landscape is unrecognizable in Gehry's design.

Eisenhower's family has opposed the large columns and the inclusion of metal tapestries, calling for a smaller-scale approach. The concept has received mixed reviews from civic art and planning experts who must approve the design for the project to move forward.

One concern has been preserving views of the nearby Capitol between the memorial's huge columns. The view corridor is wider under the revised design with fewer columns, the memorial group said.

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Architect revises design for Eisenhower Memorial