WSP Environment & Energy wins US Coast Guard project in Washington D.C. | 15th Apr 2010
WSP Environment & Energy's US-based team has recently been commissioned on a major excavation project for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). They have been selected as part of the team overseeing environmental compliance during a $435m construction of a new headquarters for the US Coast Guard in Washington D.C.
The new U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters building is being built on the grounds of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Southeast Washington D.C., a hospital that began operating before the US Civil War. The Coast Guard headquarters will feature an 11-story office building for 3,860 employees, a separate central utility plant, and two seven-story parking garages. This new 1.2 million square foot facility, scheduled to be completed in 2012, is the first phase of the Department of Homeland Security's consolidation and relocation to southeast Washington, D.C. and the first step in one of the region's largest redevelopment projects.
The U.S. GSA, which oversees the Government's real estate operations, selected Clark Construction LLC, to lead the design and construction of the $435 million project. WSP investigated historical ash-fill and contaminated soil on the construction site, and developed procedures to manage the ash and contaminated soil during excavation. We also conducted health and safety training for the workers that will be exposed to ash and contaminated soil. GSA's construction management team for the project, a joint venture between Tishman and AECOM, then selected the team of Mabbett & Associates and WSP to conduct environmental oversight during construction.
The excavation of the site will move more than 1 million cubic yards of material, including more than 250,000 cubic yards of ash and contaminated soil. The project is expected to be the largest current excavation project on the east coast of North America. WSP's staff have been on site since the first load of ash left the site six weeks ago and we expect to need seven people on site at the height of the excavation to screen soil and ash, conduct air monitoring, and manage manifests.
The Coast Guard headquarters project is the initial phase of a broader $3.4 billion effort to turn St. Elizabeth's hospital's sprawling campus east of the Anacostia River into the headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security. WSP is constantly tracking future phases of work, which will involve restoration of more than 50 historical buildings on the St. Elizabeth's campus.
For more information please contact Dave Sarr on +1 703 709 6500.
