Renovation

The Pentagon, a National Historic Landmark, has never undergone a major renovation, and after more than 50 years, renovation is essential in order to meet health, fire and life safety codes and provide reliable electrical, air conditioning and ventilating services. Absent a major renovation, the building infrastructure will be unreliable and soon unable to effectively support the headquarters and nerve center of the National Military Establishment. Major building systems have deteriorated to such an extent that repairs are no longer effective and entire systems need replacement. The presence of asbestos in the ceiling plaster, ventilating ducts, pipes and floor coverings is a serious hazard and makes repairs or alterations extremely disruptive and expensive.

From 1982 through 1990, the Department discussed with the General Services Administration (then owner of the building) renovation of the Pentagon and in the mid 1980s GSA supported the concept of transferring the building to Defense.

Based on consultation within the Administration and with Congressional Committees, legislation was prepared to transfer the Pentagon from the Administrator of General Services to the Secretary of Defense so the renovation of the Pentagon could be undertaken.

The Defense Authorization Act of FY 1991 transferred control of the Pentagon Reservation from the Administrator of General Services to the Secretary of Defense. Under the same act, Congress established the Pentagon Reservation Maintenance Revolving Fund (PRMRF) for the expressed intent of renovating the Pentagon. This Act allows the Secretary of Defense to establish rent rates for the tenants to support the renovation.

In 1990, a Concept Plan for the Pentagon Renovation was approved based on renovating the building in 1,000,000 gross square foot "wedges" with renovation of the basement as a separate endeavor. The plan envisioned the complete removal of all support systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) down to the base structural system and then construction of all new systems. This full-scale removal is dictated by the presence of asbestos in the plaster ceilings, the floor tile, the air conditioning ductwork and in pipe insulation. Removal of plumbing systems is based on the high probability of catastrophic failure.

The Renovation Program provides all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, sprinkler systems, toilets, vertical transportation, cable management systems, improvements in fire and life safety systems, and flexible ceiling, lighting and partition systems. The Renovation will also provide disabled accessibility features throughout, preserve historic elements, upgrade food service facilities, construct collocated service operation centers, install modern telecommunications support features, comply with energy conservation and environmental requirements, reorganize materials handling and provide safety improvements in vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

The renovation concept for the Pentagon includes, as a first phase, a new Heating and Refrigeration Plant, which is under construction with a 1997 completion date. In conjunction with construction of the Heating and Refrigeration Plant, a Center Courtyard Utilities Tunnel was constructed. The tunnel houses piping and conduit to distribute building utilities provided by the new plant. The second phase of the Program is the renovation of the Basement and Mezzanine which started in September 1994. The third through seventh phases of the program are the five wedges of the building from the first floor to the fifth floor. These areas have been determined to be the optimum divisions for renovation while continuing operations. In order to vacate each wedge prior to renovation, tenants will be moved either to leased swing space or to space identified within the Pentagon.

Related Internet sites:

Pentagon Renovation