Marine Barracks Washington, Building 8
Washington, D.C
Merit Award
Sent by: Michael Baker International
Owner: NAVFAC
Design Company/Lead Engineer: Michael Baker International
General contractor: John C. Grimberg Co.
For more than 50 years, the three-story, 72,801-square-meter building, untouched by major upgrades, has been transformed into a modern, high-performance administrative headquarters, while retaining its legacy. The project preserves the historic structure and character of the building while comprehensively improving its interior. Non-historic elements were removed and replaced with new office designs, finishes and building systems, including complete replacement of HVAC, plumbing, electrical and security infrastructure. Key improvements include improved accessibility through ADA-compliant entrances and a new central elevator, as well as the incorporation of anti-terrorism and progressive collapse resistance measures.
Halfway through construction, several key elements of the design required substantial and complex revisions. Despite introducing new layers of complexity, from redesign and re-approval to the resequencing work already underway, the team successfully integrated the new design direction. The project ultimately highlights resilience and adaptability and demonstrates the team’s ability to deliver in the most constrained and evolving environments.
