U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approves revised 250-foot triumphal arch design for Washington, D.C.

The Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to approve the current design for the proposed arch, advancing the project to the next stage in the federal review process. The revised design retains the arch's 250-foot height from base to a torch held by a Lady Liberty-like figure on top, flanked by two gilded eagles. The arch would bear the inscriptions "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" in gold lettering, and would include a public observation deck offering 360-degree views, according to the Associated Press.

The revised design differs from earlier proposals in several respects. An eight-foot base included in the April presentation has been removed, bringing the total elevation from more than 280 feet to more than 270 feet, CNN reported. Four gold lions that had been envisioned at the base were also eliminated; commission member James McCrery II had recommended removing them, and the Commission of Fine Arts had noted that lions are "not native to the United States," according to CNN. An underground pedestrian tunnel, which McCrery had also objected to, was likewise dropped from the plans. Granite, rather than marble, will be used for the exterior. McCrery had previously said he preferred removing the sculptural figures from the top entirely, which would have reduced the arch's height by roughly 80 feet, but the administration said Trump considered the suggestion and chose not to pursue it.

The arch would stand notably taller than the Lincoln Memorial, which is 99 feet tall, and would reach nearly half the height of the 555-foot Washington Monument, the AP reported. The planned site is less than two miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and CNN reported that the Department of Interior has requested a formal aeronautical study from the Federal Aviation Administration to assess potential hazards to air traffic.