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Mid-Atlantic (3) -->
Space Alterations Complete in Baltimore's Fallon Federal BuildingOn May 8, 2008, GSA Regional Administrator Barbara L. Shelton hosted a ceremony with federal tenants of the George H. Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore, MD, to celebrate the completion of building modernizations and Art-in-Architecture installations at the facility. Over 100 attendees gathered to hear remarks from Shelton; Kristen Soper, Assistant to Senator Barbara A. Mikulski; artists Jean Shin and Alice Aycock; John H. Cole, Jr., Director of Veterans Benefits Academy; and Rob Hewell, GSA Assistant Regional Administrator for PBS. In a short video, GSA highlighted two art installations at the facility along with newly renovated areas of the building, including the cafeteria, child care center, fitness center, multipurpose rooms, and lobby. Through a renovation project started in 2005 targeting the lower floors—or base—of the building, GSA modernized the basement, ground, and 1st through 3rd floors affecting approximately 225,000 gross square feet. The project was performed through a concerted effort to minimize disruptions to all agencies working in the building. John H. Cole, Jr. highlighted the positive impact the modernization has had on his agency and the building population. “We’re pleased with our new spaces, facilities, and equipment. We have had great working relationships with GSA and the contractors in making this come together in a period of about four years.” He also noted, “Morale is high!” As part of this project, artist Jean Shin was commissioned for an art installation, Dress Code, featured in the facility’s main lobby. Shin partnered with building tenants, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to collect clothing and garments from veterans and recent immigrants in the communities these agencies represent. The mosaic-like compositions of flat, recycled fabrics portray the diversity of individuals who make up the military and immigrant communities. Shin’s artwork, along with Alice Aycock’s abstract steel tubular sculpture Swing Over, installed on the exterior of the main entrance, demonstrate GSA’s commitment to the arts through its Art-in-Architecture program. “All of us on the Federal Executive Board (FEB) represent many agencies of the Fallon Federal Building, and we are very pleased with the results of the renovations to this building,” said Richard Howell, Executive Director of the FEB in Baltimore. “We are very happy and look forward to continuing great relationships with the General Services Administration.” This article appears in the Summer 2008 issue of the FOCUS newsletter. Please visit the current and past issues page to download and read the entire newsletter. To subscribe to FOCUS, complete the online subscription form.
Last Reviewed 7/30/2008
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