The people of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission work tirelessly to advocate for and enforce federal laws that protect workers across the country from discrimination. So when it came time for them to relocate their Washington, DC headquarters and field office, they did everything in their power to create the type of open, collaborative, and welcoming workplace their employees hope for others. We were engaged as owner’s representatives throughout the design and construction process, working as an extension of EEOC staff to protect their interests and the specific requirements outlined for their new space. Coordinating the activities of the myriad stakeholders – including end users, IT, GSA, the landlord, and the design and construction team – we facilitated a complex relocation to a leased facility in the NOMA area of Washington, DC.
One of EEOC’s main goals for the 160,000 SF headquarters was to increase departmental interaction and access to natural daylight. Working directly with EEOC and coordinating closely with the agency’s Central Services division, we ensured the new facility met both aspirational and operational goals. The new layout takes advantage of the contiguous space to allow for informal and spontaneous collaboration, while maintaining the security and privacy requirements vital to the agency.
Our involvement was extremely hands-on due to the multifaceted nature of the client – including review and refinement of the existing program of requirement, conceptual estimating, budget and schedule development, procurement strategy development, site logistics planning, and development of communication procedures and protocols. We also oversaw the design process, from space planning and layout to test fits, block and stack, and scenario planning. During the construction phase, we assumed day-to-day project management and construction supervision, monitored quality control, budget review and management, change order management, and finally coordination of project turnover and commissioning.
Once the building was ready, we developed the procurement packages for furniture acquisition and move services, as well as an extensive graphics installation that highlights the agency’s rich history and many accomplishments. The final headquarters building supports the EEOC’s 500+ local staff, and 53 field offices serving every part of the nation – ushering a new era for a workforce that’s dedicated to improving the world of work for all.
