550 17th Street, NW — Fire & Life Safety Upgrades
Project Details
Owner: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Contract Amount: $1,480,589
Date of Award: March 7, 2003
Date of Completion: May 2004
Architect to Grunley: RTKL Associates, Inc.
1250 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20036
This Fire and Life Safety upgrade to FDIC's main building is really two technically challenging projects rolled into one. The first portion of the project is a Design-Build installation of new sprinkler and fire alarm systems throughout 150,000 square feet of occupied office space. To complete the design Grunley has teamed with RTKL Associates of Washington, DC to provide both architectural and engineering services.
The sprinkler system upgrade includes installation of a new fire pump room in the underground garage with standpipes and express drains serving all seven occupied floors and the penthouse through stairwells in the core of the building. New sprinkler mains, branch lines and recessed heads will be installed above existing acoustical ceilings without disrupting any of the buildings electrical or mechanical systems.
The challenge of this systems upgrade is the necessity for seamless integration of sprinkler, fire alarm, mechanical and lighting systems while maintaining normal working conditions during standard office hours. Our crews face off-hours construction and strict cleaning requirements to provide FDIC employees with "like-new" areas and offices every morning.
The second portion of this project is a standard Design-Bid-Build renovation of the existing FDIC Cafeteria. Located on the 7th floor of the main building, the Cafeteria provides breathtaking views of the Washington skyline with a direct line towards the Washington Monument, Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the Department of Commerce. The existing cafeteria ceiling is the most stunning aesthetic feature of 550 17th Street, N.W. but asbestos insulation and coatings necessitate its removal. In its place Grunley will install a modern ceiling system designed to mimic the "Cloud" outline of the current ceiling. Along with the ceiling replacement, Grunley will provide new lighting, sprinkler systems and a new air handling unit located on the roof above the cafeteria.
The challenges of the cafeteria project include installing the new ceiling system, lights, and sprinkler heads while maintaining a functioning kitchen that provides both breakfast and lunch to hundreds of FDIC employees. In executing the ceiling and sprinkler installations, Grunley must carefully coordinate between our workers, FDIC's abatement contractor, and a separate ongoing Audio-Visual systems upgrade. Completion of the work is being managed in accordance with a compressed construction schedule.
Last Updated: September 16, 2004