The U.S. General Services Administration and Department of Homeland Security tapped Bethesda, Maryland-based Clark Construction to build a new agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., according to a news release.
The new 630,000-square-foot federal building, located on Homeland Security’s sprawling St. Elizabeths West campus east of the Anacostia River, will house the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the nation’s lead organization for cyber defense and critical infrastructure security.
The contract, valued at about $524 million, includes approximately $115.8 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding.
That’s the GSA’s largest single IRA project investment to date as part of the Biden-Harris Investing in America agenda, according to the release.
“The construction of this headquarters underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s cyber landscape,” said Elliot Doomes, GSA’s public buildings service commissioner, in the release. “Our work here also demonstrates how we can incorporate sustainable practices.”
The project emphasizes advanced energy-efficient systems, including chilled beams, energy recovery ventilation and a high-performance building envelope, according to the release. The features aim to reduce the building’s energy use intensity by 72% compared to other office buildings.
Project teams expect the building to achieve LEED Gold v4 certification, and will incorporate low-embodied carbon materials such as asphalt, concrete, glass and steel during construction, according to the release. The investments aim to promote domestic manufacturing and clean energy industries, aligning with the Biden-Harris administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative.
The addition of the CISA headquarters to the St. Elizabeths West campus is part of an ongoing effort to consolidate the DHS into one location, according to the GSA.
“The CISA project is a flagship example of how the Biden-Harris administration is fulfilling its commitment to invest in America, both here in Washington, D.C., and all across the country,” said Robin Carnahan, GSA administrator, in the release. “St. Elizabeths is a place where thousands of dedicated public servants work to keep America safe and explore new technologies, so construction will support those goals.”
Clark Construction will start work in the fall of 2024 and plans to complete the project by 2027, according to the GSA.