GHT provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design and fire protection services for Williams & Connolly’s new 300,000 SF headquarters in Washington, DC. Through early engagement during core and shell design, the GHT team helped Williams & Connolly achieve a highly customized space.
With many design considerations pertaining to MEP systems integration, the GHT team, in collaboration with HYL Architecture, utilized their expertise with law firm design to seamlessly integrate the systems with the high-end office space. In our latest case study, Senior Associate Matthew Catalano shares how the GHT team created a specialty space that catered to the unique needs of the law firm.
Williams & Connolly
GHT provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design and fire protection services for Williams & Connolly’s new headquarters at 680 Maine Avenue, SW, in Washington, DC. Williams & Connolly signed on as the anchor tenant for the building during the core and shell design. In doing so, Williams & Connolly retained HYL Architecture as the interior architect and collaborator, as well as GHT as the interior MEP engineer to manage required tenant modifications and upgrades to the base building.
On board when Williams & Connolly signed their lease, GHT advised and advocated for the tenant’s needs, which included the addition of penetrations, installation of DOAS terminal units (VAV boxes), location of the primary air ductwork loop and risers, and implementation of slab folds in the roof for recessed areas to house kitchen equipment. Through early collaboration with the core and shell team, GHT created a specialty space that catered to the unique needs of the law firm.
Explore the Specialty Space
The 300,000 SF headquarters encompasses ten floors and a penthouse, which houses workspaces, conference rooms, and more; welcoming employees and guests through the high-end lobby entrance with sophisticated fixtures. The second floor is home to a large conference center, as well as a full catering kitchen with hoods, which required early coordination with the core and shell team to route kitchen exhaust through to the roof. The second floor connects to the neighboring building, 670 Maine Avenue, through “The Oculus”, a glass bridge that creates a porte cochère entrance for the two buildings, allowing tenant access to the fitness center.
The third floor features a large multi-purpose conference center with operable walls and a coffee bar that’s frequented by employees and visitors. Most Williams & Connolly employees work on floors four through ten, which include a mix of open workspaces, private offices, and huddle rooms. The specialty space of the building, the penthouse, is equipped with a second commercial kitchen with hoods that support the cafeteria and dining area, a NanaWall that opens to the outside roof deck, and a penthouse conference center that overlooks the East Potomac Golf Course.
Performance data for the LEED Gold building indicates a more than 30% reduction in water use compared to the baseline, resulting from plumbing design strategies, such as the utilization of low flow fixtures on plumbing fixtures throughout the building. The building also achieved a more than 20% reduction in energy performance compared to the baseline because of the efficient mechanical equipment integrated into the building.
Through early engagement during core and shell design, the GHT team helped Williams & Connolly achieve a highly customized space that suits the unique needs of the law firm. With many of the design considerations pertaining to MEP systems integration, the GHT team utilized their expertise with law firm design to seamlessly integrate the systems with the high-end office space.
The Oculus
The Oculus is a unique structure with many MEP design considerations that contributed to the construction of the space. With program requirements dictating a higher load than the building had originally been designed for, GHT worked with the core and shell team before building construction began to navigate ventilation requirements to allow for the necessary mechanical equipment, while avoiding any additional cost to the client.
With conference centers surrounding the structure and outdoor occupiable space above, the large, round area required significant coordination. To accommodate the fabric panel ceilings, GHT coordinated with architects from HYL to relocate existing HVAC systems and piping to accessible locations. GHT navigated the challenge of providing air on a curved structure by coordinating with the architectural ceiling design to integrate into the perimeter ceiling, providing a seamless HVAC system at the curved façade. To avoid disturbances to the structure, GHT utilized a pump system to navigate plumbing challenges and pump fixtures like the chilled bottle filler system located in every conference room.
Consideration #1: Balancing Comfort and Efficiency
With the development of their new headquarters, Williams & Connolly wanted to create a space that prioritized occupant comfort, while maintaining efficient MEP systems. As the sole tenant for the tower, the firm was able to customize many of the components of the core and shell HVAC system before the building was constructed. Early coordination by GHT resulted in optimized riser locations and quantities for chilled water, exhaust, and outdoor air. The building ventilation systems were redesigned to accommodate Williams & Connolly’s extensive assembly areas. These modifications required GHT to advocate on behalf of the tenant and resulted in early procurement of long lead items such as DOAS terminal units, specialty HVAC systems and light fixtures.
In addition to enhancing the office layout that’s specific to the tenant’s needs, there were several other MEP considerations to balance comfort and efficiency. The acoustical requirements of law firms require close coordination with the architect and acoustical consultant to coordinate the HVAC DOAS terminal unit locations, ductwork routing, and air diffuser selections. As a result, the large, mechanical units required coordination with the building structure and architectural ceilings to fit them in the space. Other considerations included the elimination of odor migration through kitchen exhaust from the cooking kitchens and general space exhaust from the cafés.
Consideration #2: Providing the Plumbing Infrastructure
GHT coordinated with the core and shell team to develop plumbing infrastructure that could accommodate the space’s sizeable amenities and achieve the anticipated design. With amenities ranging from a fitness center to food service areas, the space required substantial plumbing systems. To accommodate the kitchens and third floor café, GHT designed and sized the grease waste, running a dedicated grease drain from the basement to the penthouse, which provided the infrastructure needed to support the food service areas.
Rather than run pumps, which would have required significant maintenance and service to adjust their flow rates to changing demands, GHT designed a low-maintenance electric heat cable system for hot water to support the fitness center, kitchens, and café. GHT identified that the core and shell water system was undersized for Williams & Connolly’s requirements and worked with the core and shell team to resize the system in alignment with the tenant requirements, with extensive support for the amenity spaces on floors two and three. By identifying this issue early, GHT saved the client time and money, so they did not have to run an entirely new water main pipe later in the project.
Consideration #3: Elevating the Interior Environment
Another common consideration with law firm design is the elevated aesthetics and functions of the space for the occupants. Acoustics and temperature zone control play a critical role in the mechanical engineering design, while DC energy codes and LEED impact the electrical engineering design.
Williams & Connolly’s specialty spaces are equipped with high-end appliances and luxury design elements, such as round columns, maximized ceiling heights, and glass walls, which required extensive coordination with HYL Architecture so the MEP equipment would be hidden and unobtrusive to the interior environment. The headquarters also incorporated technology for hybrid work, which required the reconfiguration of office space into mock courtrooms with remote technology.
Working with GHT on Highly Specialized Law Firm Spaces
With a demonstrated history of working on law firm spaces, GHT’s MEP engineering design approach focuses on alignment with the law firm’s specific needs, whether it’s an open office plan or increased ceiling heights. Through high-quality design and attention to detail, our team partners with law firm clients to create specialty spaces that realize their goals.
For expert advice on your law firm project, reach out to Senior Associate Matthew Catalano at [email protected] or at (703) 243-1200.