Building Intelligence

Smart thinking underscores Defense Intelligence Agency's facility expansion

By Jim Parsons

The design and construction of the $100 million 450,000-sq.-ft. expansion of the Defense Intelligence Analysis Center in Washington, D.C., required dealing with a constrained site and high-security demands.

The Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., has a far-reaching constituency and equally diverse demands from its facilities.

A four-story transparent atrium serves as a portal to visually link the lobbies of the existing buildings and the 450,000-sq.-ft. expansion of the Defense Intelligence Analysis Center.

As a major provider of foreign military intelligence, DIA serves the needs of customers ranging from the U.S. president to the newest solider deployed in the field.

The design and construction of the 450,000-sq.-ft. expansion at the agency's Defense Intelligence Analysis Center at Bolling Air Force Base, addressed a wide range of design issues - from the physical constraints of its prominent location near the confluence of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers to the security of DIA employees and their respective missions.

"We dealt with a number of site constraints, the most important of which were our proximity to the river, Bolling's historic headquarters building and south parade ground, and other natural and built features," said Cynthia Johnston, project manager for architect SmithGroup of Washington. "We also wanted to create a work environment that fosters efficiency and accommodates new technologies within a design that projects a new signature expression for the agency."

Located on a 44-acre site adjacent to the existing 835,000-sq.-ft. DIAC building constructed in the early 1980s, the $100 million six-story addition will contain a full array of office, conference and classroom spaces. The structural concrete frame is surrounded by 150,000 sq. ft. of glass and aluminum curtain wall with a centerpiece four-story transparent atrium serving as a portal to visually link the lobbies of the new and existing buildings.

Change of plans

Although the additional space will enable the DIA to more effectively fulfill its role in the global fight against terrorism, the impetus for the addition predates the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, said Lt. Cdr. Brian Moore, resident officer in charge of construction for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, which is serving as the DIA's construction agent.

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"Planning actually began in the late 1990s," he added. "DIA wanted to bring several of its departments from leased offices in the community into a central, more secure location. The original plan was to construct the addition in three phases, spanning three consecutive fiscal years. But after Sept. 11, Congress expedited the entire project."

In approving single year funding just as the RFP was being finished, Congress also cut $10 million from the construction budget. SmithGroup quickly incorporated bid options into the construction documents, giving DIA more flexibility to tailor the end product to available funds.

Construction began in May 2003, and value engineering by general contractor Manhattan Construction Co. of Fairfax, Va., yielded cost savings. A foundation system of more than 1,680 augered pressure grouted displacement piles averaging 40 ft. in length proved less expensive than the 55-ft. drilled piles originally specified.

"Along with being shorter and having a higher friction value, the APGD piles reduced the amount of dirt spoils, which in turn reduced trucking costs," said Brian Killion, Manhattan project manager. "The quieter installation also minimized disruptions and inconveniences to DIA employees."

A sense of security

The six-story structural concrete frame is surrounded by 150,000 sq. ft. of glass and aluminum curtain wall.

On schedule for completion in October, the DIAC addition will provide a secure, technologically flexible work environment that also enhances worker comfort and productivity. Unlike the original building - a square module with a deep floor plate and limited number of windows - the addition's narrower configuration and larger window area contribute to enhanced interior daylighting.

"Coupled with a decision to place most private offices at the building core and open offices at the perimeter, access to daylight is a benefit to all employees," SmithGroup's Johnston said.

The curtain-wall assembly that affords such interior openness also provides protection from outside threats. Although antiterrorism and force protection measures have been incorporated into government facilities for years, Moore said using curtain walls of this type for blast protection is fairly new.

"Final approval of the design hinged on the results of extensive testing of a full-scale wall system mock-up and required continuous dialogue between the manufacturers and project architects throughout the six-month engineering process," he said. "Once we were satisfied with the design, the curtain-wall components were assembled offsite into 70- and 140-sq.-ft. units, then transported to the construction site for installation."

Unlike the original building - a square module with a deep floor plate and limited number of windows - the addition's narrower configuration and larger window area contribute to enhanced interior daylighting.

To further enhance the force protection posture, an earth berm topped with a 3-ft. stone wall provides a protective perimeter for both buildings. SmithGroup also added a pond adjacent to the portal and one of two new access control centers to serve as building protection, site amenity and stormwater management facility.

Despite working on a sensitive facility designed for a sensitive mission, Killion said the construction effort has been relatively routine. "The security procedures are not unlike those we've had on other military bases, and we've had reasonable access for staging materials and equipment," he added.

The project's biggest logistics issue so far has been the limited parking at Bolling. Manhattan and other major subcontractors have provided offsite parking and shuttle service for their employees.

"We were also pleased that Manhattan was able to complete an 800-space surface parking area for DIA employees a year ahead of schedule," Moore said. "That's a particularly welcome benefit since a planned extension of the parking garage was lost during the initial budget cuts."

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