Originally built in 1941 for manufacturing machine gun ammunition during WWII, GSA Building 53 underwent a complex renovation and repurposing of nearly 200,000 square feet within a 388,000 square foot building that had been renovated multiple times before. The building remained occupied throughout construction, while the project team carefully executed a complete demolition, abatement, and renovation without disrupting the tenants.
The modernization of this office space, which serves various government agencies with different needs, was akin to performing surgery in a cave — both literally and figuratively challenging. The project included a complete reroofing, managing COVID restrictions, massive containment and abatement, and meticulous planning to ensure all tenants could continue working throughout the process. This effort showcased exceptional planning, coordination, and foresight by the JE Dunn team, design team, and trade partners to keep the project on schedule and within budget.
In addition to a full interior renovation, the project involved major repairs and replacements of structural and architectural deficiencies and upgrades to the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and low voltage systems. The project also added a new secure building entry, an exterior employee patio area, and a 65-space parking lot, along with upgrades to the exterior façade, docks, and window systems.
