Headquarters, Suitland, Maryland
With 1.5 million square feet of space and two parking structures providing 3100 parking spaces totaling an additional one million square feet, the new U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland is the largest General Services Administration (GSA) project of this type to date. The project schedule is based on full occupancy of the new buildings by March 2007 to support the initial activities of the 2010 Decennial Census.
The new complex, a $331 million investment, features two eight-story, curvilinear office buildings connected by a large glass atrium that makes them appear to be one continuous building. The sleek buildings - containing offices, a conference area, cafeteria, credit union, fitness center, library, and support space - are designed to accommodate the 6,000 Census employees who were previously spread among several buildings in Suitland and nearby locations.
The new Census Bureau headquarters uses a synthetic/steel fiber blend in the concrete over metal deck floors. Supplementary steel reinforcement was used to provide continuity over areas of negative moments. Approximately 1.3 million-square-feet of concrete was used in the decking. The synthetic fibers worked to reduce the formation of plastic shrinkage and settlement cracks, allowing the concrete to develop to its optimum long-term integrity. With Superior Concrete's use of these special mixes, Skanska, the General Contractor, was able to cut several days from its placement schedule, speeding up the overall construction timeline.
U.S. Concrete Supplier: Superior Concrete Materials, Inc.
Concrete Contractor: Stellar Concrete & Masonry
General Contractor: Skanska USA (managed by DMJM / Heery)
Architect: HKS / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LTD
Engineer: Walter P. Moore
Budget: $331 million