Dave Westrick, Wedge 1 project manager for the Pentagon Renovation Program (PENREN), addressed the crowd at a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially reopen Wedge 1 for occupancy on March 8. The other key memebers of PENREN looked on. (left to right): Cecil Doyle, president and chief executive officer, Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern; Lee Evey, program manager, PENREN; David Cook, director, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Colonel Robert Kirsch, project manager, Information Management & Telecommunications; A.S. McGaughan, Jr., Executive vice president, AMEC Construction Management Inc.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Pentagon, headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, is moving forward with the Pentagon Renovation Program (PENREN), a seven-phase, 20-year, $1.2 billion project. Johnson Controls, Inc., a Fortune 150 company, was awarded many of the more than 300 individual contracts required for this massive renovation project.

Major renovation to one fifth of the Pentagon's office space, or Wedge 1, was completed earlier this year and officially reopened for occupancy at a ribbon-cutting event on March 8. Renovation of the Pentagon's five upper floors constitutes Phases III through VII of the program with one wedge being renovated at a time. The "wedge" concept mirrors the way in which the building was originally constructed and ensures all systems will be maintained throughout as each wedge is renovated. The Pentagon's office space includes more than 26,000 military and civilian defense personnel as well as 3,000 non-defense support personnel.

A National Historic Landmark, the Pentagon has not undergone major renovation in its entire 58-year history. Renovation will ensure compliance with current health, fire and life safety codes and provide efficient and reliable systems and services.

One portion of Johnson Controls involvement included providing a consistent, reliable and comfortable workplace environment throughout the Pentagon with Metasys a proprietary integrated systems hardware and software package. The company was also awarded contracts to upgrade safety systems, lighting retrofits and communications support features as well as provide solutions for improved facility utilization. As renovation to Wedges 2 through 5 proceed, Johnson Controls will continue to be a major solutions provider in several realms.

"We are enormously pleased with the work that has been accomplished thus far," said Lee Evey, Program Manager, Pentagon Renovation Program. "We've assembled a highly professional and dedicated team of designers, engineers, contractors and support staff for this historic and comprehensive renovation of the Pentagon, and Wedge I exemplifies their extraordinary efforts."

Now entering Phase IV, PENREN 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 removes asbestos, provides disabled accessibility, preserves historic elements, upgrades food service facilities, installs modem telecommunications support features, complies with energy conservation and environmental requirements, reorganizes materials handling, and provides safety improvements in vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Phase I of the renovation project was the construction of a new heating and refrigeration plant, which was completed in 1997. In addition to the plant, this phase featured a new classified waste incinerator and a new utilities distribution system, which required the construction of a utilities tunnel. Phase II involved replacing the original basement concrete slab floor with a structurally supported slab. By lowering the original slab two feet, designers were able to develop a 220,000-sq. ft. mezzanine level between the basement and the first floor. Approximately 1,400 personnel have been relocated to the renovated space in the Pentagon's basement and mezzanine.

Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. For nonresidential facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services, energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls, founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis. Its sales for 2000 totaled $17.2 billion.

Publication date: 05/14/2001