Best Government Building: Complex Curtain Walls Define Dynamic FBI Building
PHOTOS BY NICK MERRICK ©HEDRICH BLESSING
PHOTOS BY NICK MERRICK ©HEDRICH BLESSING
PHOTOS BY NICK MERRICK ©HEDRICH BLESSING
PHOTOS BY NICK MERRICK ©HEDRICH BLESSING
Named for two FBI special agents killed during a 1986 shootout in Miami, the Benjamin P. Grogan and Jerry L. Dove Federal Building in Miramar, Fla., consists of a four-building campus situated on the edge of the Everglades.
Standing at the center of the 383,000-gross-sq-ft project are the six- and seven-story office towers—connected via a link at the sixth floor; the towers collectively measure more than 303,000 sq ft. To meet the owner’s criteria, designers incorporated a progressive-collapse concrete structure with a highly customized curtain wall facade that meets government-specified blast requirements and can withstand winds in excess of 180 miles per hour.
The designer responded to the client’s emphasis on the idea of “connectivity” by using the irregularly shaped curtain wall exterior.
Positioned near the Everglades, the building’s exterior reflects and refracts light from the surrounding wetland environment, seemingly pulling it into the building.
To build the complex design and to allow construction to flow continuously without interruption, design-builder Hensel Phelps and design-build architect Gensler implemented multiple design reviews at intervals exceeding the owner’s contract requirements, project team members say.
While the General Services Administration’s normal requirements for design reviews are at 35%, 60%, 90% and 100%, builders felt that review frequency was insufficient. Instead, designbuilders required each firm to develop a design schedule for the separate buildings as well as each bid package. Then, the team performed design reviews at the prescribed GSA milestones as well as at the time of submission of multiple packages.
This so-called “fast-track” design review approach matched the plan for fast-tracking construction. Additionally, the 24/7/365 facility was designed and built to receive LEED Platinum Core and Shell certification, LEED Gold Commercial Interiors certification and Sustainable Sites Initiative
BENJAMIN P. GROGAN AND JERRY L. DOVE FEDERAL BUILDING
Miramar, Fla.
KEY PLAYERS
OWNER General Services Administration (GSA)
LEAD DESIGN FIRM Gensler
CONTRACTOR Hensel Phelps
PROGRAM MANAGER Jacobs
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Walter P Moore and Associates
MEP ENGINEER Syska Hennessy Group Inc.
