Wedges 2-5 is a phased design/build
renovation of 4 million square feet of space in the Pentagon.
The project brings all remaining un-renovated areas of the building
into compliance with modern building, life safety, ADA and fire
codes. Work includes removal of all hazardous materials, replacement
of all building systems, addition of new elevators and escalators
to improve vertical circulation, and installation of new security
and telecommunications systems. Renovated spaces will be modern,
efficient, and flexible. The project, underway since September
2001, is on an accelerated schedule for completion in December
2010, four years sooner than originally planned. During the
past year, much has been accomplished on Wedges 2-5. Master
plan design of Wedges 2- 5 is complete, as is core and shell
design of the first two phases of Wedge 2. Tenant fitout design
is well underway, and design of the third (and final) phase
of Wedge 2 is in progress. Sustainable design measures have
been integrated into the design. The Wedges 2-5 project is enrolled
in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Existing Buildings Pilot Program, and is working to achieve
a gold rating. Force protection initiatives prompted by the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attack have been successfully incorporated
into the design. These include increased blast resistance, improved
fire protection/life safety, and inclusion of chemical, biological
and radiological (CBR) protection. Construction is progressing
well in all areas of the first two phases of Wedge 2, and is
on track for completion in October 2003. Demolition and abatement
was completed ahead of schedule in April 2002. Decommissioning
of building mechanical, electrical and telecommunications systems
was recently completed. Because of the age and poor documentation
of existing systems, the decommissioning effort required detailed
planning and careful execution. Work currently ongoing includes
construction of new half-corridor bridges, installation of new
elevators, and rapid build-back of tenant office spaces.
CHALLENGES
Key project challenges include integration of changing requirements
(primarily telecommunications and force protection upgrades),
tenant requirements gathering, and coordination of project turnover/tenant
relocations. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attack caused
the Renovation Program to reassess and upgrade project design
criteria in many areas. Identification and implementation of
the new criteria has been extremely challenging because design
and construction had to proceed while studies were in development
in order to meet the overall accelerated program schedule. Tenant
requirements gathering has historically been a challenge for
the Renovation Program and continues to be a challenge for Wedges
2-5, particularly for nontypical tenant spaces. Project turnover
and tenant relocation to newly completed space is a complex
effort. It must be carefully orchestrated to ensure a smooth
transition for tenant missions and timely release of new areas
for renovation.
MILESTONES
The renovation of Wedges 2-5 will be accomplished in four major
increments (wedge by wedge), each of which has been sub-phased
to accommodate the accelerated schedule. Wedge 2 has three sub-phases.
The first two phases are under construction now and will be
complete in October 2003, and the third phase will be complete
in November 2005. Tenant relocation to newly renovated spaces
will occur in phases, beginning in June 2003. The Wedge 2-5
project is also responsible for completing a building-wide pathway
for a new telecommunications backbone. This task is dependent
upon making final building-wide connections to the new Center
Courtyard utility infrastructure. This coordinated effort will
be complete by Summer 2003.
