Years in the making, the new Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Headquarters in New Cumberland, PA provides more than 950 full time staff with a state-of-the-art work environment, replacing buildings that were 40, 50, and even 100 years old and providing the first permanent workspace for some employees who had been working out of temporary structures. The new facility enhances operational efficiency for the campus by consolidating DLA functions in a single, comprehensive building. Equally significant, Denis du Breuil, USACE deputy chief of Construction Division North, notes that high quality new facilities like this one can have a profound positive impact on the entire installation community as these installations share the characteristics of a small city.
The 265,000 square foot, multi-story command building is organized into three wings, backing onto an existing golf course and maximizing views of the Susquehanna River. The central wing was designed as four stories plus a mechanical penthouse, while the East and West wings were designed as three stories. Each wing features a variety of office spaces, including open and private offices, conference rooms, a 200-seat cafeteria, a 394-seat auditorium, a videoconferencing center, a computer data center with raised flooring, storage areas for filing systems, and other special-purpose spaces. In addition to serving as a home base for the nearly 1,000 staff members, the new DLA Headquarters will host foreign dignitaries and visitors.
Designed to LEED Silver certification, the facility features energy-efficient lighting and equipment with motion and occupancy sensors, natural light, rainwater harvesting, recycled and local materials, green roofs, photovoltaic roof panels, maximized solar orientation, and increased levels of insulation. The sustainable design emphasis for this new building is reflective of the agency’s greater efforts to reduce waste and cut energy use.
Awards
2018 ASID VA/IIDA VA-WV Interior Design Excellence Award (IDEA) Honorable Mention Award