Following a nationwide review of general contracting companies, DPR Construction, Inc. has been selected by the American Institute of Architects for a major renovation of the AIA’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C. DPR Construction will partner with the AIA and Studios architecture to use a fully integrated project delivery (IPD) process enhanced by building information modeling (BIM) to reduce waste, maximize efficiency, and ensure quality throughout all phases of design and construction of the project.

DPR Construction was awarded the renovation contract for the AIA’s 180,000-sq.-ft. building, located at 1735 New York Ave. N.W. in Washington, D.C., due to the company’s leadership in IPD, BIM and sustainable construction, according to Marnique Heath of Studios Architecture, the firm that has been named the architect of record for the renovation project and part of the contractor selection jury.

The AIA headquarters building was originally designed by The Architect’s Collaborative, a firm founded by Walter Gropius, one of the most innovative and influential architects of the 20th century. First occupied in 1973, the building is located a few blocks from the White House.

According to Chris Gorthy, preconstruction manager for DPR Construction, Inc. on the AIA project, the IPD approach combined with BIM and sustainability on the AIA project will forever change current delivery methods for future design and construction. The headquarters renovation also will provide a 21st century example of a sustainable workplace that other architects and building construction companies, as well as the general public, can emulate. The AIA plans to reduce its fossil fuel usage by 60 percent at the time of completion via the use of passive and active mechanical systems. The project will be a stepping stone for the AIA and will provide the means to achieve the ultimate goal: to be carbon neutral by the year 2030.

The project may use photovoltaic panels, wind turbines or geothermal systems, among other strategies to satisfy electrical demand. The project also looks to harvest 100 percent of the rain water falling on the site to reduce demand for potable water and ease the city’s overstressed sewer system.

“All of us at DPR Construction are thrilled and honored to have been selected by the AIA for this once-in-a-generation project,” Gorthy said. “Sustainable design and construction is clearly one of the most important architectural movements of our time, and we look forward to helping the AIA achieve its vision of the world of the future.”

The AIA headquarters renewal project will be overseen by DPR Construction’s Falls Church, Va., office. The company’s other notable projects in the region include the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center for the Library of Congress in Culpeper, Va., a headquarters consolidation project for U.S. Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Md., a medical office building renovation for Kaiser Permanente in Frederick, Md., a data center renovation for Digital Realty Trust in Ashburn, Va., and a solid-dose manufacturing facility for United Therapeutics in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

Construction on the AIA project is tentatively scheduled to start late spring/early summer of 2009, with completion expected by the end of 2011.

Redwood City, Calif.-based DPR Construction, Inc. (http://www.dprinc.com), founded in 1990, is one of the world’s leading general contractors within the “green” movement and was ranked the fifth “greenest” contractor by Engineering News Record in 2007. The company, which specializes in technically challenging and sustainable projects, is also a recognized leader in Integrated Project Delivery, defined by the AIA as an approach that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication and construction.

Nearly 30 percent of DPR Construction’s professional staff is LEED®-accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest percentage of any general contractor in the United States. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-accredited professionals have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles, and the LEED Rating System.

About The American Institute of Architects

For over 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. By using sustainable design practices, materials, and techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design. Visit http://www.aia.org/walkthewalk