LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/107181
NCCWP (Continued from page 70) Project Team Client: General Services Administration, Washington, D.C. Architect/Landscape Architect: Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum: Washington, D.C. Bob Barr: Principle in Charge Bill Hellmuth: Principal Designer Walter Urbanek: Project Manager Roger Schwabacher: Project Architect Jose Chieng: Landscape Architect Carl Mukri: Interiors Donna Sharpe: Interior Project Manager Anica Landreneau: LEED Coordinator Construction Contractor: Skanska USA Building, Rockville, Md. Engineers Civil: A. Morton Thomas and Associates, Rockville, Md. Geotechnical: Opus East, Rockville, Md. MEP: Vanderweil Engineers, Alexandria, Va. Structural: Walter P. Moore and Associates, Washington, D.C. Lighting Design: MCLA, Washington, D.C. Top The rear garden has a flowing series of berms to screen the surface parking lots. The foreground rock channel conveys stormwater. Bottom Lit ornamental bollards protect pedestrians from vehicular activity. The stainless steel finish of the light bollards (Bega 8212 metal halide) helps tie the plaza into the architectural elements of the building. The pole lighting is the 'Oval Soltice' (SOL1) from Lumec. This rain garden consists of a gentle swale that is heavily planted with trees, shrubs and ferns ('Sweet Bay' magnolia, chokeberry, inkberry holly, sensitive fern, and 'Tussock' sedge) in a soil medium that helps filter contaminants in the water. The bottom of the rain garden is filled with small stones and spotted with boulders, adding points of contrast within the overall landscape composition. Depending upon the season and amount of surface water run-off this garden can be wet or dry. The main dining terrace for workers is located outside of the cafeteria space and perched up above the central rain garden. It is paved with green slate and shaded with honeylocust trees. It is surrounded with a stainless steel and glass railing, allowing full visibility into the rain garden. A custom-designed galvanized steel bridge connects the dining terrace to circulation paths around the rest of the site. 72 Landscape Architect and Specifier News Wind Sculpture Adjacent to the dining terrace and at the termination of the view from the building lobby through the rain garden, a large wind sculpture has been mounted onto the side of the parking garage. The artist Ned Kahn created the sculpture that is made out of aluminum. It has small pieces that flutter in the wind and reflect light creating and ever changing mural. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA's) National Center for Climate and Weather Prediction (NCCWP) houses 825 employees, including meteorologists, scientists and data managers from NOAA's Satellite, Data and Information Service, and NOAA'S Air Resources Laboratory. NCCWP delivers science-based weather, water and climate forecasts for the U.S. and the world. The scientists also measure air quality; study climate variations; monitor and predict movement of volcanic ash; research ways to use NOAA satellite data to better safeguard the environment; monitor hurricanes and cyclones worldwide; and analyze fire and smoke plumes from wildfires.