Norman Foster to Cover the Courtyard of the Historic Old Patent Office Building

The National Capital Planning Commission, in another striking reversal, voted 9 to 2 to approve the elegant glass canopy designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Norman Foster to cover the courtyard of the historic Old Patent Office Building.

Three months ago, the same commission had voted 6 to 5 to reject pretty much the very same design, after twice approving the fundamentals of the design in 2004.

The way has now been cleared, in other words, for one of the more beautiful works of architecture and engineering the city will have seen in its 215-year history.

Like the gossamer glass roof Foster and his London colleagues created for the Great Court of the British Museum, this one will be a technical marvel that will lift the spirits.

It will transform a wonderful historic space in a most fitting and amazing way.

Not to build such a splendid, modern structure would have been a dumbfounding mistake.

The error would have been noticed around the world, for sure.

Today, architecture plays a significant role in establishing a city's competitive credentials.

To turn down a wonderful building out of excessive caution or misplaced preservationist zeal? Definitely embarrrassing.

The Smithsonian Institution and the London-based firm of Foster and Partners did make a number of changes to the