U.S. Department Of Agriculture (USDA) Mail Center — South Administration Building
Washington, DC
Project Details
Owner: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
Contract Amount: $8,577,627
Date of Award: September 2004
Date of Completion: June 2006
Architect: Shalom Baranes & Associates, Washington, DC
This project consisted of the renovation of the old Library Building and the construction of a new loading dock within Court 4 of the USDA South Building. This provides the USDA with an upgraded Mail Center facility within the existing Library Building structure and includes screening facilities for both the Mail Center and the main loading dock.
The existing building includes a utility tunnel, sub-basement, basement level, and first floor. The existing structural frame is concrete encased structural steel and has infill library stack floors. This project included the renovation, preservation, and enhancement of the historic original architecture.
The first phase of the project required hazardous material abatement. There were asbestos-containing materials, PCB-containing light ballasts and Mercury containing light tubes. There were also lead containing paint on ceilings, beams, perimeter walls, and steel. Once the hazardous abatement was complete, demolition will begin.
During the demolition phase, the existing concrete encased steel library stack floors were removed. They were replaced with new concrete structural infill at the first floor and other locations. The first floor of the existing structure was renovated to provide open office space, typical of other office space in the existing USDA building.
Also included were new fire, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and life safety systems. The building was upgraded to meet barrier-free accessibility requirements.