Government

U.S. Department of Interior's Fish & Wildlife Service has retained HarleyEllis of Southfield, Mich., to provide architectural and engineering design services for the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory expansion in Ashland. The 48,000-sf project encompasses the analysis and renovation of 23,000-sf of existing facility and the design of 25,000 sf of expansion. The expanded facility will house forensics labs, a firing range, administration, and conference space.

U.S. Department of Agriculture has consolidated operations from 13 regional offices in six states at the new Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Eastern Regional Hub at North Carolina State University's Centennial campus in Raleigh. The 35,000-sf hub, located in the Venture II building, accommodates Animal Care and Investigative and Enforcement Services; Plant Protection and Quarantine; Veterinary Services; and Wildlife Services. The current staff of 80 is expected to grow to 150 people by the end of 2000.

U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory has awarded a contract for comprehensive engineering design and construction services to a team comprised of San Francisco-based URS Corporation, Burns & Roe and Technical Design. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract runs for five years, with five option years, and has a potential value of $25 million per year.

National Institutes of Health has three major projects under construction. The Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center is a $360 million, 600,000-gsf replacement hospital plus an additional 850,000 sf of research labs. The Washington office of Portland, Ore.-based Zimmer Gunsul Frasca designed the "clinical research model" building, with labs close to patient care units. Completion is anticipated in December 2002.

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a defense contractor, has plans to consolidate its operations in 222,159 sf at a build-to-suit in Alexandria's Mark Center. IDA currentlly occupies two buildings at the site. The new 260,000-sf building, slated for completion in February 2002, was designed by Davis Carter Scott and is being developed by Mark Winkler Co.

A new bill introduced in February 2000 called the Truthfulness, Responsibility, and Accountability in Contracting Act - Contracting (TRAC) Act," H.R. 3766, "Prohibits any Federal agency from making a decision to privatize, outsource, contract out, or contract for the performance of a function currently performed by such agency or to conduct a study to convert a function from Federal to contractor performance."

The 66-year-old U.S. Custom House became the first building in Pennsylvania to receive an Energy Star Buildings Label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for energy efficiency. The Energy Star Buildings Label recognizes the nation's top 25 percent most energy efficient buildings in the areas of energy performance and indoor environment standards.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dedicated its new $2.3 million, 354-seat conference center in May 2000. The 12,518-sf facility--built in what was an abandoned theater--will be the new site for NTSB proceedings and hearings on civil aviation accidents. Special features include a stage with movable panels; two 9' x 12' dual rear projection screens capable of displaying traditional visuals, videotapes, DVDs, and live video; a six-zone distributed sound system accommodating 34 microphone inputs; and easy access for the media.

The National Fire and Protection Agency (NFPA) has partnered with Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to build a set of Consensus Codes--a new set of codes for the built environment. Their goal is to provide safety officials with a new consistent and compatible set of codes by the year 2003. As part of the Consensus Code project NFPA also plans to devise a NFPA Building Code.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 10-year building and renovation plans for the CDC's two main Atlanta campuses are expected to cost approximately $1.1 billion. Five new laboratories and four lab renovations, plus renovations to a number of lab support buildings, are included in the plan. A substantial increase for the CDC's 2001 facilities budget has been approved by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Approval of the new budget would speed completion of the project.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 10-year building and renovation plans for the CDC's two main Atlanta campuses are expected to cost approximately $1.1 billion. Five new laboratories and four lab renovations, plus renovations to a number of lab support buildings, are included in the plan. A substantial increase for the CDC's 2001 facilities budget has been approved by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Approval of the new budget would speed completion of the project.

General Services Administration (GSA) is planning a new $35 million, 215,000-sf facility in Washington for the Office of Student Financial Assistance, a Department of Education division. Groundbreaking is scheduled for May 2000, with occupancy anticipated by October 2001. Greenbaum & Rose of Washington is the developer for the project. The general contractor is  Centex Construction of Fairfax, Va.

Fort Sam Houston's historic Brooke Army Medical Center and the Beach pavilion Complex will be redeveloped by the U.S. Army working in partnership with the Pennsylvania firm Roy F. Weston Inc. as prime contractor. Local firms involved in the project are Orion Partners, Cross & Company and Ford, Powell & Carson.

Suitland Federal Center's new master plan, begun in March, is moving forward with Leo A. Daly as the prime contractor. Completion of a preliminary plan for the U.S. General Services Administration is anticipated in June 2000. Among the agencies housed at the 185-acre complex are the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Bureau of the Census. The master plan anticipates construction of a new 207,970-gsf facility for the NOAA at a cost of $51,737,000.

OSHA proposes new ergonomics standards. Under this new proposal about 1/3 of the general industry worksites will be affected and over 27 million employees covered. The proposal currently identifies several elements for a full implementation of an ergonomics program: