This audacious project involved the reimagining and repositioning of an outmoded, parking-lot-dominated office campus, formerly occupied by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, into a quiet, naturalistic setting for the Defense Intelligence Agency. The project brings together 16 intelligence agencies for education, training, and exchanges of data.
At the heart of the transformation is a new Z-shaped, 220,000-sf structure, the Centrum Building, which links the three existing buildings and serves as the vertebra of the entire campus. The existing buildings were re-skinned to create a cohesive exterior aesthetic for the 750,000-sf campus.
The sea of parking spaces was replaced by natural landscaping, which provides camouflage from the neighboring buildings, and a multi-story parking garage.
The rich metal panel exterior design was inspired by the site’s wooded surroundings. The deeply matted finish minimizes light reflection, strengthening the sense of camouflage.
Building Team – Submitting firm, design architect Leo A Daly Owner U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency Architects and engineers of record AECOM, EwingCole Interior architect DBI Architects Landscape architects Oehme van Sweden, Wiley|Wilson Program manager Markon Solutions Design-builder Contractor Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
General Information – Size 750,000 sf Cost Withheld at client’s request Construction time April 2012 to May 2016 (projects ongoing through 2018) Delivery method Design-build
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