[Photo]Our primary mission at DHS is protecting our nation and our citizens, but as the newest and third largest agency in the federal government, we must also tackle hefty administrative challenges on a regular basis. One example is our headquarters location. We currently have employees scattered throughout 70 buildings across the National Capital Region which – among other difficulties – impedes our communication and effectiveness.

To remedy this situation we’re consolidating DHS facilities and collocating 14,000 of our Headquarters personnel at St. Elizabeths, a historic hospital campus located in Southeast Washington. Once completed, this project will further unify our components, enhance communication, and increase our mission effectiveness, ultimately improving our nation’s security.

There are three issues we’re focused on as we plan our move to St. Elizabeths in the coming years. One is size. Last year we completed a plan that identified our specific needs for office space and associated parking on a secure campus. Because space in and around Washington is already limited, we had to remain flexible and culled out just those critical mission functions the Secretary requires to effectively manage the department. Our goal is to reduce our total number of office locations from more than 40 to about six or eight.

Another issue is the historical significance of St. Elizabeths. Built over 150 years ago, it remains a National Historic Landmark and we intend to honor its history by retaining and adaptively reusing between 82 and 89 percent of the contributing square footage. Unfortunately many of the buildings of the West Campus have been neglected over time and are in disrepair. Thanks to the General Services Administration, these buildings have been stabilized and protected for use in the near future. New construction will be added in a manner that respects the landscapes, views and circulation patterns that are important historical characteristics of the site.

In addition to size and historical concerns, we’re also keenly aware of the impact our move will have on the surrounding community. To that end we will work directly with community leaders to establish a framework for limited public access; while still preserving our security and operational requirements. The General Services Administration’s world-class designers will minimize impacts to views to and from the campus and within the length of the campus. And we also plan to exclude the West Campus Cemetery from any security perimeters, thus making it accessible at all times to the public. We look forward to being good neighbors and valued members of the community.

It’s important to understand that we are not only master planning a site, which is a National Historic Landmark, we are also master planning how the Department of Homeland Security will function to support the nation. We are not simply placing square footage on a piece of property; we are aligning our facilities to support the federal government’s most critical responsibility; the protection of its citizens. That responsibility demands facilities that support close cooperation, coordination communication and integration.
We also understand that there are stakeholder interests in the property and we continue to work towards accommodations where possible. I firmly believe St. Elizabeths West Campus can meet our mission needs and at the same time, we can preserve this important landmark.
Don Bathurst Chief Administrative Officer