washington constitution center known david building office building located 7th street washington feet high floors covering entire city block largest privately owned office building district_of_columbia current tenants include february worth million making valuable property city original structure 1950s governing institution district_of_columbia undertook southwest urban renewal project capital district earliest programs nation congress passed district_of_columbia redevelopment act established provided legal authority clear land funds spur redevelopment capital congress gave authority designate land redeveloped funded passage housing act study found small southwest quarter city suffered high concentrations old poorly maintained buildings threats public health lack running indoor water sewage systems electricity central heating indoor toilets competing visions redevelopment ranged renovation wholesale neighborhoods view prevailed likely qualify federal funding original plans called demolition structures beginning legal challenges led area mid-1950s issues surrounding planning construction plaza immediately west site delayed construction buildings block late 1960s purchased land welfare wished purchase site new headquarters declined sell property federal government pay taxes land structures owns wanted private owner add tax base attempted sell land january buyers building constructed agreement boston developer july president began planning unite disparate transportation agencies new property owner manager federal government began seeking lease build structure house new agency late chief division knew previous lease negotiation discussed building size approached april asked buy newly razed block land bounded 6th 7th streets sent letter advising likely lease entire structure intended build million land purchase finalized october cost structure unclear november secured million construction loan washington_post cost building million july newspaper said august cost structure million building designed architect designed john kennedy center performing arts april leased entire building years million chief contractor construction began july delayed short time site went strike completed main entrance faced 7th street included central courtyard open sky featured fountain benches landscaping foot high arcades pierced building center block creating access courtyard facade vertical marble ribs obtained quarry near italy provided marble kennedy center finished building floors basement floors square feet space square feet usable space largest privately owned office building city time contacts later subject legal investigation shared inside information plans later invested business officer relationship left december letter indicating intention lease set irregular building public knowledge august internal critical process costs lease month building called question common business practice initial provide interim loan construction loan build building interim loan paid second mortgage receives payments building owner local bank provided interim construction loan paid construction loan payment halted loan officer dealt indicted taking bribes approve loans pension fund refused provide loan sued payment threatened building building served headquarters dot building designed interior walls permit easy interior space november federal government exercised powers eminent domain seized control story basement parking garage order provide inexpensive parking dot workers years government workers complained working structure believed suffered sick building syndrome owner building disputed claims announced leave building owners promised million renovation included new air ventilation cleaning system agency stay owners unsuccessfully sued force renew federal lease building completed building new headquarters june plaza metro station opened entrance structure north arcade july entrance opened day opening day entrance inside underground shopping center plaza opened october june opened million virginia avenue half block north renovation announced million renovation building renamed constitution center architectural firm overseeing redesign oversaw construction renovation included highest security features building area included central perimeter security system closing central plaza building changes increased interior footage square feet steel underground parking garage columns capable powerful explosion fully staffed security screening points concrete built façade communication water utilities contained blast proof spaces ventilation shafts parking garage secure area special security procedures obtain access building critical systems security enhancements office building suitable federal agencies exception square foot underground parking garage contains spaces amenities added building included square foot seat auditorium courtyard plaza level room square feet conference center accommodate meetings people service plaza level access courtyard fitness center people exterior building radically changed celebrated key visual feature building exterior vertical white marble completely removed found age weather fundamentally changed nature building public outcry replaced energy efficient glass facade significant renovation feature structure use beam system uses heated water circulated strategically placed columns interior space cool warm building test efficiency beam technology system installed building tested year architect agreed use system test specifications installation represented large scale use beam technology united_states energy saving enhancements included motion daylight turn lights needed special exterior windows automatically dim prevent daytime heating building ventilation system upgraded renovation left structure square feet interior space final cost renovation million aesthetic improvements building features acre park open sky central courtyard courtyard concrete removed trees shrubs flowers planted absorb park longer accessible public includes large granite abstract art sculpture legacy sculpture meant reflect original facade building memory son plaza metro station entrance building street entrance closed october july building reconstruction renovation installed artwork internationally known artist near entrance strong beams light passed dyed glass brightly colored patterns ceiling light sculpture titled transformation building renovation rebirth registered renovated won awards construction news web site gave building project year renovation restoration december march bestowed award excellence installing power generation distribution constitution center january valued million city tax making valuable private property city year tenants recession left renovated building struggling find tenants nearly years opened occupancy april homeland security nasa explored chose august sec signed letter contract square feet space constitution center sec planned occupancy september january agreed lease square feet space signed agreement occupy square feet space occupied building march sec occupancy building occur planned october sec informed needed square feet square feet leased january sec inspector general launched investigation sec leased proper legal sec chairman strongly criticized republicans united_states house_of_representatives handling lease personally approved unclear sec occupy space building sec inspector general requested formal opinion lease violated act inspector general said sec space needed sec projected expansion percent figures justify sec committing expenditure million years early july said agreed release sec occupying square feet space constitution center company asked sec million build expenses incurred august july agency declined said declined file suit agency indicated continue negotiate sec federal agencies seek time said considering prosecute officials sec lease handling alleged documents designed justify occupancy issues constitution center confused legislative action october transportation infrastructure voted permit lease square feet space constitution center vacate apex building turned legislation adopted congress march directed analyze space needs federal agencies district_of_columbia issue report committee meet needs reported june held little space house entire costly accounting moving expenses rental prices instead proposed lease additional space street leased space additional room available april said sec owed rent company said letter contract required agency pay million month beginning november april agency owed million rent company spokesperson said agency disputed cost saying build interior completed sec officials said agency needed space constitution center sec working find federal tenants lease late said lease square feet space building major consolidation offices city july congressional pressure moved workers constitution center leased locations street deal kept apex building headquarters months later rented space constitution center signing sale april announced putting sale said hoped find buyer end summer company said hoped million purchase price real estate banking firm assisted securing buyer june reported negotiated purchase agreement unable reach agreement withdrew discussions deal sale agreed december unidentified investor represented purchased percent interest building sale price million square foot square meters sale price expensive history single building paid square foot record went building market square pennsylvania avenue sold square foot deal closed february announces wind operations remaining obligations city tax said value rose million million increase million making valuable property district_of_columbia
Constitution Center (Washington, D.C.)