McLean, Va.

Key Players

Owner CBRE

Architect Gensler

General Contractor HITT Contracting

MEP Engineer GHT Limited

Electrical Contractor Dynalectric

The 181,000-sq-ft administrative and operations center for a leading satellite services provider took shape as a high-rise building. Multiple specialized mechanical and electrical systems that support Intelsat’s satellite launches and operations were designed while the building was still under construction. That required all coordination to be done virtually, using BIM technology. The systems include: a 700-kVA generator located on the second level of the garage and linked to the Intelsat data center by more than 2,400 linear ft of 4-in. supplemental power electrical metallic tubing; a six-module, 180-ton, roof-mounted multistack chiller; more than 35 individual supplemental cooling units; new 480-V switchgear; and a stand-alone building management control system.

The equipment and supplemental infrastructure were delivered and installed in 16 weeks, allowing commissioning and testing to be completed so that launches could be managed on site from Day 1.

To create a balanced work environment, there are a variety of collaboration and private spaces on every floor. This “vertical campus” is tied together by a six-level ornamental stair system. An 80-ft feature wall includes panels with an integrated LED slim-line linear light strip that mimics the tracing lights of a night sky.

Despite an eight-week interruption while awaiting local life safety system permits to complete above-ceiling work, the project was completed on schedule in just 26 weeks.