National Institutes of Health Building 29B Renovation
National Institutes of Health Building 29B Renovation | Bethesda, MD
DPR successfully converted a mothballed laboratory building located in the heart of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, MD into a much-needed new life science facility, working closely with the owner to resolve myriad challenges along the path to completion in May 2019.
The adaptive reuse project represented one of DPR’s first projects on the NIH campus, laying the groundwork for several subsequent jobs. Originally constructed in 1993, Building 29B is a five-story, 91,000-sq.-ft. laboratory structure with a basement and penthouse. Each floor has two wings with offices and laboratory and support space, while the upper three floors include capacity for specialty BSL-3 and/or cGMP facilities.
The adaptive reuse project represented one of DPR’s first projects on the NIH campus, laying the groundwork for several subsequent jobs.
High-Performance Facility
The building’s prime location in the Central Quadrangle of the NIH campus led to its planned reuse for current NIH research needs. The basement level connects to Building 29A and includes new cGMP space and insectarium facilities. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is using the space to produce master and production cell banks, pilot-scale fermentation and purification of bulk drug substrates.
Before constructing the new basement DPR performed remediation of hazardous materials and removed various equipment. Additional scope included all utility and interior systems, exterior windows, roofing and penthouse enclosures. Elevators and stairwells were upgraded and a new stairwell and break area added, among other things.
The
Challenges
Numerous unforeseen conditions and resulting owner-driven change orders, combined with a more traditional design/bid/build contracting method, amplified an extremely challenging project that delivered various lessons learned for DPR and the entire project team.
Photo: Numerous unforeseen conditions amplified a challenging project.
Since the building had not been occupied for some time, many of the pieces of equipment needed to bring it back online had fallen into disrepair or had been lost altogether. Because this work was not part of the original scope and was only discovered after construction began, DPR worked closely with NIH for approvals and worked diligently to forge a strong, trust-based partnership designed to move the project forward despite the many hurdles.
The
Challenges
Numerous unforeseen conditions and resulting owner-driven change orders, combined with a more traditional design/bid/build contracting method, amplified an extremely challenging project that delivered various lessons learned for DPR and the entire project team.
Photo: Numerous unforeseen conditions amplified a challenging project.
Since the building had not been occupied for some time, many of the pieces of equipment needed to bring it back online had fallen into disrepair or had been lost altogether. Because this work was not part of the original scope and was only discovered after construction began, DPR worked closely with NIH for approvals and worked diligently to forge a strong, trust-based partnership designed to move the project forward despite the many hurdles.
The
Solution
After vetting the additional work and reaching concurrence with NIH, DPR prepared proposals for the repairs and upgrades as change orders. NIH approved the change orders and directed DPR to execute the additional work to the overall benefit of the facility and the science intended to be performed in the building.
Photo: After vetting the additional work and reaching concurrence with NIH, DPR prepared proposals for the repairs and upgrades as change orders.
Although unforeseen conditions significantly extended the contract and work scope, the team was able to mitigate schedule impacts by resequencing and phasing the work, expediting material and equipment fabrication and shipping times, and using selective overtime to complete within the contractually agreed upon time.
Photo: The adaptive reuse project represented one of DPR’s first projects on the NIH campus, laying the groundwork for several subsequent jobs.
DPR’s SPW group was integral to the project’s completion, self-performing multiple scopes of work on the project. Self-perform scopes included the doors, frames and hardware, rough carpentry, interior framing, acoustical ceiling and final clean during the project close-out.
Photo: Self-perform scopes included the doors, frames and hardware, rough carpentry, interior framing, acoustical ceiling and final clean during the project close-out.
The
Solution
After vetting the additional work and reaching concurrence with NIH, DPR prepared proposals for the repairs and upgrades as change orders. NIH approved the change orders and directed DPR to execute the additional work to the overall benefit of the facility and the science intended to be performed in the building.
Photo: After vetting the additional work and reaching concurrence with NIH, DPR prepared proposals for the repairs and upgrades as change orders.
Although unforeseen conditions significantly extended the contract and work scope, the team was able to mitigate schedule impacts by resequencing and phasing the work, expediting material and equipment fabrication and shipping times, and using selective overtime to complete within the contractually agreed upon time.
Photo: The adaptive reuse project represented one of DPR’s first projects on the NIH campus, laying the groundwork for several subsequent jobs.
DPR’s SPW group was integral to the project’s completion, self-performing multiple scopes of work on the project. Self-perform scopes included the doors, frames and hardware, rough carpentry, interior framing, acoustical ceiling and final clean during the project close-out.
Photo: Self-perform scopes included the doors, frames and hardware, rough carpentry, interior framing, acoustical ceiling and final clean during the project close-out.
The
Result
The NIH Building 29B Renovation project provided a litany of lessons learned and contributed to DPR’s knowledge base in performing and partnering on federal projects using the traditional design-bid-build delivery method. DPR worked closely with NIH to maintain the highest level of transparency while ultimately delivering a quality project that not only met their needs, but also improved the long-term performance and usable life for the building.
Photo: DPR delivered a quality project that not only met client needs, but also improved the long-term performance and usable life for the building.
The
Result
The NIH Building 29B Renovation project provided a litany of lessons learned and contributed to DPR’s knowledge base in performing and partnering on federal projects using the traditional design-bid-build delivery method. DPR worked closely with NIH to maintain the highest level of transparency while ultimately delivering a quality project that not only met their needs, but also improved the long-term performance and usable life for the building.
Photo: DPR delivered a quality project that not only met client needs, but also improved the long-term performance and usable life for the building.
We think you'll like this, too.
