The "Ph.D. of Projects "

The Capitol Visitor Center Offers Team Highest Degree of Difficulty, Most Reward

By Debra Wood

The Architect of the Capitol is balancing change with preservation as he leads
his team on one of the most complex and visible projects in our nation's history - the new U.S. Capitol Visitor Center currently under construction adjacent to the East Front.

The Capitol building is a very close neighbor on this site. In some places, slurry wall was placed within 2 ft. of the Capitol. (Photo courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol)

"I consider the Capitol Visitor Center my most significant project," Architect of the Capitol Alan M. Hantman FAIA said in a written statement to Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine. "It is not just another construction project. It is a project of historic and momentous importance."

And it's being done right under the noses of Congress.

And the plaza has to be complete by the Presidential Inauguration on December 2005 - no questions asked.

And everything changed after 9/11.

"Of course, there are myriad challenges with executing such a project while keeping the seat of our nation's democracy and what is arguably our most historic landmark fully functional at the same time," Hantman added.

"But when we open our doors to the public, the visitor center will provide a secure public environment to welcome and manage a large flow of visitors and to protect the Capitol building, its occupants and guests in an atmosphere of free and open access."

The project started in early 2001 as architect RTKL, construction manager Gilbane Building Co. and the office of the AOC worked together on design, logistic and coordination issues.

Together, the team performed extensive analysis of all systems, materials and structural elements. The structure is designed to withstand time, so the specifications for stone and other materials were scrutinized to ensure that they would provide the long life expected of them.

In addition, it was imperative for the team, working so closely to the Capitol, that pedestrian, parking, VIP access logistic issues be resolved before a shovel went in the ground. Temporary parking lots were created, and VIP entrances moved. Access to the Capitol so that business could be carried out was also changed. Temporary screening facilities were set up on the North and South sides.

Other site-preparations included removing or transplanting trees, and some historic features from the grounds, such as lanterns and fountains, which will be restored and returned.

Security, Security and More Security The team went beyond the normal security standards set on most project sites. In addition to including state-of-the-art security features in the design, the team needed to ensure that the site was secure as well.

At the CVC, each worker on the site has a badge that was only issued after an extensive background check. Each day when a worker comes to the site, their badge is electronically scanned. That scan is matched to a retinal scan also on site. Then each worker goes through a metal detector.

Every truck load is also scanned, searched and sniffed. Police are present to oversee the operation. was to ensure the identification swipe with the retinal scan match.

Keeping Business Running As Usual One of the Congressional concerns for the project was noise. How were they to conduct business with such a large construction project right under their noses? To answer the concern, the team sequenced the work to dig the 600,000 sq. ft. hole, and quickly put the Plaza top on it so work could be done underground for the remainder of the project.

The team also installed temporary sound windows on all of the windows that open to the East of the Capitol.

"So far, there have been no complaints," said Mark Luria, project executive for construction manager Gilbane Building Co.

9/11 The project team was progressing along nicely when September 11, 2001 hit. "It was essential that the team review at that time some of the finishes and security systems in the new center after 9/11," Luria said. "We had two choices - we could wait until that review to bid out the gc package, or we could break the job into sequences - one for the structure and one for the fit out. We chose to break the job up." (A third sequence - sequence 1C - was added later to provide the interface between the visitor center and the Capitol).

Sequence 1 In June 2002, AOC awarded Centex Construction Co. of Fairfax, Va. a $100 million contract to construct the foundation and three-story structure below ground.

"It was pretty breathtaking and quite an honor to be awarded the project," said Bob Frew, project executive with Centex. "We consider it a patriotic endeavor and an opportunity to partake in something we'll all be proud of the rest of our lives and our grandchildren will be proud of."

The visitor center includes a security screening area, a great hall with two 30-by 70-ft. skylights that will provide views of the dome, two orientation theaters, cafeteria, support offices and an eight-bay loading dock. The contract includes constructing
an 800-ft.-long truck tunnel that will allow delivery trucks to arrive below grade and pass through security away from the building. In fact, the project includes five tunnels for various purposes.

Crews removed more than 500,000 cu. yds. of material from the site. Truck traffic was relegated to specific routes between rush hours. During the summer, crews worked during the evening and through the night.

Sequence 1C The team decided to make the interface between the Capitol and the center a separate contract. They found that by changing the original plan, they could save up to $20 million in this crucial portion of the project. To buy some time for re-design, they separated out the contract and kept the project moving. Centex Construction was awarded the G.C. contract on this sequence as well.

Subcontractor Nicholson Construction Co. of Cuddy, Pa., received an $11 million subcontract to install a 32-in.-thick, 130,000-sq.-ft. reinforced diaphragm wall, to depths of 75 ft., and 500 temporary anchor supports. A slurry plant was erected onsite.

On the side adjacent to the Capitol, crews dug one 10-ft. trench at a time to limit risk to the existing structure. In some places, Nicholson placed 23-ton sections of the slurry wall within 2 ft. of the Capitol. The company used 20-ft. panels on the balance of the job.

"The condition of the ground here was fairly good for slurry wall construction," said Luca Barison, project manager for Nicholson. "We never had problems with collapsing of the trenches."

Sequence 2 AOC awarded a $144.2 million contract to Manhattan Holdings Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., in April to build out the interior spaces, install electrical, mechanical and plumbing, and coordinate with existing building systems. The company began limited
onsite work late in 2003, but now are running full steam ahead.

About two-thirds of the structure's columns are steel framing, weighing about 22 tons each, and the others are concrete. The basement is slab-on-grade concrete, and the two intermediate levels are elevated slab.

Additional Contracts Still Coming In addition to the work on the CVC, the scope of the project has increased. Still to come are two more contracts, one for House and Senate expansion space ($70 million) and one for East Front Capitol mechanical upgrades ($15 million). The complexity of this project - every facet of it- led Luria to remark, "This is definitely the Ph.D. of Projects."

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