NMR worked closely with the contractor and owner to design a structure built using insulated, pre-cast concrete walls and a steel-framed roof structure. This efficient system enabled the quick construction of the building shell, and shortened the construction schedule to six months. Steel canopies and trellises were constructed to provide shade and weather protection, and add visual interest to an otherwise simple, efficient structure. The building is cooled using a thermal energy storage (TES) system comprised of rooftop Ice Bear units and heat pumps which create ice at night. During the design phases, NMR collaborated closely with the three federal agencies that share space in the building to ensure that their specifications and space requirements were met.
