HANDOUTS
- Agenda
- April 15, 2004, Community Liaison Council Meeting
Minutes
- NIH Community Liaison Council Member List (as of
May 20, 2004)
- NIH Bethesda Campus Construction Projects (slide
copies)
- Gateway Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, May 20,
2004 (slide copies)
- NIH Bethesda Campus 2003 Master Plan Update:
Bethesda Campus Illustrative Master
Plan (slide copies)
- Art for Fine Living at Strathmore (announcement
postcard)
WELCOME AND UPDATES
Tom Gallagher, Director, Office of Community
Liaison (OCL), Office of the Director (OD), National
Institutes of Health (NIH) and Co-Chair, Community Liaison
Council (CLC), welcomed members and guests.
CLC DISCUSSION ITEMS
Perimeter Fence
Dr. Gallagher reported that there would be no immediate
closure of the perimeter fence. George Oberlander, Huntington
Parkway Citizens Association, said that the pedestrian
gates, although closed, were not locked and could be
opened to enter the Campus.
Noise Associated with Porter Neuroscience Research
Center
Stella Serras-Fiotes, Office of Research Facilities
Development and Operations (ORF), NIH, informed the
members of the CLC that consultants had been engaged
to conduct noise measurements, to locate the source
of the noise, and to find a solution. She explained
that the problem concerned the fans and air balancing.
She asked nearby residents to be patient over the next
few weeks while corrections and adjustments were made
to muffle the fans.
Stephen N. Sawicki, Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association,
commented that nearby residents were having difficulty
sleeping due to the noise. He said that the noise bothered
occupants of eight or nine homes on McKinley Street
about 300 feet away from the building. He asked how
this could happen and wanted to know when the situation
would be corrected. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that she
hoped that the situation would be resolved within 30
to 45 days; however, she said the consultants needed
time to analyze the cause and solve the problem. Ralph
Schofer, Maplewood Citizens Association, recommended
turning off the fans at night. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said
that the building was almost finished, so the HVAC had
to stay on 24 hours a day and the fans could not be
turned off.
When Nancy Hoos, Sonoma Citizens Association, reported
the noise to Dr. Gallagher, he said that he checked
but could not hear it during the daytime because of
traffic noise. However, beginning at 8 p.m., he could
hear the noise. Dr. Gallagher said he checked at intervals
until 1 a.m. and found that it continued. Ginny Miller,
Wyngate Citizens Association, asked if this situation
violated any Montgomery County noise ordinances. Ms.
Serras-Fiotes said that the noise was below the maximum-permitted
level. Mr. Sawicki requested that Dr. Gallagher write
to notify residents on McKinley Street of the source
of the noise and the efforts of the NIH to resolve the
situation. Dr. Gallagher said that he had responded
to e-mails and taken telephone calls from some of the
neighbors. He agreed to write to residents if Mr. Sawicki
would provide the names and addresses of the nearby
residents. Mr. Sawicki agreed to provide this information.
Montgomery County Pond ProjectSE quadrant
of the NIH Campus
Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that Montgomery County was looking
for additional funds to begin the pond construction
on the south side of the Campus.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that the Construction Projects
Update would be presented by Karen Rhodes, Program Manager,
Division of Capital Projects and Property Management,
NIH.
PRESENTATIONS
Presentation on Share the Health
by Walter Mitton, Community Relations Specialist,
Office of Community Liaison, NIH
Walter Mitton, Community Relations Specialist, OCL,
NIH, presented photographs taken at the NIH Share
the Health event that took place on April 24, 2004.
He noted that more than 5,000 attendees from the community
had enjoyed the indoor and outdoor activities and exhibits
of the event, held at Montgomery Blair High School in
Silver Spring. Mr. Mitton commented that the interactive
robot Holly Heart and the The Drunken Brain
demonstration had both been big hits. He noted that
120 volunteers had assisted with the events, and that
many were students from Takoma Park Middle School and
Blair High School. Mr. Mitton said that he looked forward
to holding this event in 2005.
Presentation on Construction Projects Updates
by Karen Rhodes, Program Manager, Division of
Capital Projects Management, NIH
Karen Rhodes, Program Manager, Division of Capital Projects,
NIH, showed slides of 11 Campus construction projects.
Ms. Rhodes described each project and provided milestones.
Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge
Ms. Rhodes noted that the 34-bedroom lodge was for the
use of families of patients in the Clinical Research
Center (CRC). She pointed out the lodge's location adjacent
to the old convent, south of Center Drive. Ms. Rhodes
said the lodge would open in 2005. She mentioned that
the NIH Foundation had financed this project. Anthony
Clifford, ORF, NIH, emphasized that no government funds
had been used to build the lodge and that the Edmond
J. Safra Foundation made a gift to the NIH for this
project.
Comments
Mr. Oberlander and Mr. Schofer expressed concern about
the cleaning, maintenance, and drainage of the double-gabled
roof of the lodge.
Perimeter Fence
Ms. Rhodes described the materials used in the two-mile-long
perimeter security fence and said that in addition to
black metal pickets there were boulders, cable, and
stone wall systems that reinforced several sections.
She said that in addition to the main entrance there
were seven vehicular entrances and nine pedestrian entrance
gates for employees located at various locations along
the fence perimeter. Ms. Rhodes said the project was
substantially completed.
Discussion
Tom Robertson, Parkwood Residents Association, asked
which company had been contracted for this project.
Ms. Rhodes confirmed that it was the [Engineering and
Construction Group], known as Kellogg Brown & Root
(KBR), a Halliburton company. Mr. Sawicki observed that
the blue security telephones had not been installed
along the south pedestrian path. Ms. Rhodes said that
these and call buttons would be installed and that the
path would be monitored. Ms. Miller wondered why it
was taking so long for the construction to be completed.
Ms. Rhodes and Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that the automated
systems for monitoring and emergencies had to be tied
into the gate operational system. Dr. Gallagher added
that the fence and gates had been constructed over different
terrain and contoured to the buffer zone.
Mr. Schofer asked about the cost of the fence so far.
Ms. Rhodes said that construction of the fence and entrances
totaled $15 million.
Patient and Patient Visitor Entrance
Ms. Rhodes pointed out the location of this entrance
on the north side of the Campus at West Cedar Lane and
West Drive. She said this entrance would be an alternate
inbound-only entrance to the Visitor's Center for CRC
patients and their families and for emergency vehicles.
She described this entrance and indicated locations
of a security processing building, three vehicle-inspection
lanes, and a guard booth. Ms. Rhodes said this entrance
would be completed in 2004, before the opening of the
CRC. Ms. Rhodes indicated areas where 41 trees were
removed to construct the three components of this entrance.
She showed a schematic indicating where trees either
remained or had been replaced and explained how NIH
had planted replacement trees at other campus locations.
Discussion
Mr. Oberlander asked whether any more trees than shown
on the slide would be destroyed. He mentioned that some
of the lost trees had been mature and 36 inches in diameter.
Ms. Rhodes said there were three additional trees being
reviewed. Otherwise she said the trees shown in the
slide would remain.
Building 68Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility
Ms. Rhodes said the existing surface parking on the
east side of the Campus between North Drive and Wilson
Drive on Rockville Pike would be replaced by the Commercial
Vehicle Inspection (CVI) Facility. She remarked that
one of the buildings would be for security, support,
and a canine area. Ms. Rhodes said that inspection would
be conducted outside before being admitted to the Campus.
She said the facility construction would be completed
in 2005.
Questions
Mr. Schofer and Mr. Oberlander asked for details about
vehicle stacking and the length of the queuing areas.
Erwin N. Andres, Gorove/Slade Associates, a traffic
consultant to the NIH, said that he had specific numbers
but not with him at the meeting. When pressed for estimates,
Mr. Andres said that there would be intermittent entry
of vehicles throughout the day. He estimated that there
would be 100 or fewer 55-foot trucks per day. Mr. Andres
said that there were four stacking lanes for vehicles
waiting while one to two trucks were undergoing inspection
under the canopy. He estimated they would accommodate
sixteen 55-foot trucks and four 18-wheelers. Dr. Gallagher
asked how long the inspection would take. Mr. Andres
said approximately 90 seconds. Ms. Miller commented
that sufficient personnel would be needed to conduct
inspections and to prevent bottlenecks. Mr. Schofer
said that the operations procedures should have dictated
the design of the CVI facility.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes recommended that these operational
details should be presented during a follow-up presentation
when NIH police and security personnel could answer
these particular questions. Ms. Rhodes said that the
design and construction teams had been working with
security personnel. Dr. Gallagher agreed to contact
the NIH Police about attending a future CLC meeting.
Dr. Gallagher asked about the appearance of this area,
as visible from Rockville Pike. Mr. Andres said that
earth berms would provide screening. Mr. Oberlander
noted that the Illustrative Master Plan showed green
space or trees along the roadside. Mr. Sawicki asked
for assurance that this would not be an eyesore. He
hoped that the berm and landscaping would be adequate.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that the National Capital Planning
Commission (NCPC) had made recommendations and said
that these had been incorporated into the design presented
on the slide.
Mr. Oberlander and Mr. Sawicki wanted to know the distance
to the canopy from Rockville Pike and its location relative
to the buffer zone. Mr. Andres said that the canopy
was 50 to 60 feet from Rockville Pike and that the CVI
facility was outside the fence. Debbie Michaels, Glenbrook
Village Homeowners Association, asked about the direction
of the approach. Mr. Andres said that trucks would be
traveling south from the Beltway (I-495) and making
a right turn into the CVI from Rockville Pike. Mr. Robertson
said that the NIH had done a good job of installing
the crossing areas for bikers and pedestrians. He said
drivers would have a 90° view of the crossing area
and that the crossing surface differed from that of
the roadway.
Building 33
Ms. Rhodes showed slides of an artist's renderings of
the 150,000-gross-square-foot laboratory building and
the 1,230-car multi-level parking (MLP) facility. She
noted that the MLP facility would open in August 2004
and the construction of Building 33 would be completed
in 2005.
Comments
Lesley Hildebrand, Huntington Terrace Citizens Association,
and Mr. Sawicki noticed that there were several unshielded
smokestacks along the top of Building 33. They were
concerned about their visibility and being an eyesore
similar to that on the uncompleted Porter Neuroscience
Research Center. Ms. Serras-Fiotes noted that the Porter
Building stacks might be shielded sooner than had been
forecast, as the NIH was considering rescheduling this
work before beginning phase two of the project.
Dr. Gallagher wanted to know what orientation of Building
33 was shown on the slide. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that
the view of the stacks would be most visible from the
interior of the Campus. She said that they would be
less visible from Rockville Pike on the east than as
shown on the slide. Mr. Oberlander wondered why the
stacks needed to be so tall. Morton Goldman, Sc.D.,
Luxmanor Citizens Association, commented that the stacks
needed to be above the roofline and protrude a distance
to prevent a downdraft. Mr. Sawicki wanted assurance
that NIH was committed to correct such a situation,
should it occur, and that if the stacks were a problem
that they would be screened. Dr. Gallagher asked Ms.
Serras-Fiotes and Mr. Clifford if they would provide
assurance to Mr. Sawicki about mitigating such a situation.
Ms. Hoos remained concerned about whether budget considerations
might preclude screening of the stacks should they prove
to be an eyesore. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that the budget
included construction contingency funds.
Ms. Hoos wondered if this building would have the same
noise problem as that of the Porter Building and asked
whether this could be mitigated. Mr. Schofer advised
Ms. Rhodes to contact the HVAC [heating/air-conditioning]
team to prevent a noise situation similar to that at
the Porter Building. Ms. Rhodes said that she would
convey that message to the HVAC design team of Building
33. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that if any such noise occurred,
it would be mitigated at both Porter and at Building
33. Mr. Clifford, as NIH's Chief Engineer, said that
the design for this laboratory building was typical
of that of other Campus lab buildings. He said that
he did not anticipate a problem at Building 33. He noted
that the mechanical components of the building were
located on the western side of the building, facing
the interior of the Campus.
Northeast Utility Tunnel Extension
Ms. Rhodes said that the Northeast Utility Tunnel extension
would connect Buildings 1 and 33 and provide chilled
water, steam, and utilities. Ms. Rhodes assured the
CLC that there would be no noise post-construction.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that a notice would be sent to
the NIH and CLC on days when blasting would take place
during construction. Mr. Schofer confirmed that the
County had guidelines about blasting and he commented
that he had not heard any blasting noise associated
with the construction of Building 33.
Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center
Ms. Rhodes said that the laboratories situated on the
outside of the CRC would be occupied in September 2004,
and in December 2004 patients would be moved in. Ms.
Miller asked if there would be tours scheduled. Mr.
Clifford said that VIP tours and an opening ceremony
would take place in September. He offered to work with
Dr. Gallagher on scheduling a tour for the CLC. Mr.
Oberlander asked about access to the CRC from the Children's
Inn. Ms. Rhodes said that access would be either on
foot or by using the interior NIH shuttle bus.
Children's Inn Addition
Ms. Rhodes said the opening of the addition to the Children's
Inn at NIH had taken place in May. She reported that
the 34,000-gross-square-foot wing had been funded by
the Children's Foundation, Inc. She said it provided
guest rooms, associated living and recreational space,
and administrative office and storage space.
John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center
Replacing Buildings 35 and 36, Ms. Rhodes said the Porter
Neuroscience Research Center would have 600,000 gross
square feet of space. She noted that there were two
phases of construction: Phase 1 would be completed in
May 2004, and Phase 2, beginning with the demolition
of Building 36 in January of 2005, would be completed
at the end of 2008.
Mr. Oberlander asked how much of the stacks would be
visible after the screening was in place, and he asked
whether the window design was energy efficient. Ms.
Serras-Fiotes said the screening was quite high. Mr.
Clifford said that this innovative window design allowed
light to enter the window panels at a 30° angle.
He said these panels gathered and reflected light into
the interior of the building. Mr. Oberlander cited the
windows of the Intelsat Building, located on Connecticut
Avenue in DC, as an example of a similar energy-efficient
design. Mr. Schofer wondered about cleaning the windows,
particularly from the inside. Mr. Clifford said that
there would be scaffolding attached on the building's
top to clean the exterior. He said that rainfall would
hit the angular side of the window and run off.
Ms. Hildebrand said that the rendering shown previously
to the CLC differed from the rendering shown on Ms.
Rhodes' slide. She wondered which representation was
shown to the NCPC. Ms. Serras-Fiotes acknowledged that
tastes in architecture differed, however she believes
this building will be recognized for its design qualities.
She added that the NCPC received the same submission,
which included stack screening. Mr. Sawicki asked about
the location of phase-2 construction. Ms. Rhodes said
that this area would not be visible from Old Georgetown
Road.
Northwest Parking Garage (MLP-9)
Ms. Rhodes said that the MLP-9 facility would contain
978 spaces within a six-story building. She said February
2005 was the anticipated completion date.
Discussion about Trees (continued)
Ms. Miller expressed concern about losing trees when
construction took place. She said the trees enhanced
the Campus, and she wondered whether checks and balances
existed to maintain the NIH campus look. Ms. Miller
also emphasized the importance of maintaining trees
in the buffer zone. She inquired about the size of the
replacement trees at the CRC. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said
that the trees replaced at the CRC site were nice big
trees, in the 6- and 1012-foot range.
Ms. Rhodes said that the NIH is accountable to the State
of Maryland and that the plan submitted had been in
compliance with, or exceeded what was required. She
noted that the NIH had been committed to and conscientious
about replacing trees and landscaping after construction.
Eleanor Rice, Locust Hill Civic Association, expressed
concern about the species of the replacement trees.
Ms. Rhodes said that a mixture of trees was included,
taking into consideration the characteristics of the
replanted area. Mr. Schofer complimented the planting
of the sycamore trees on the Campus' south side.
Gateway Center Presentation
by Mike Sansaver, IDB Architects
Mike Sansaver, assisted by Martha Sansaver, both of
IDB Architects, showed a slide of the Gateway Center
and an aerial view of existing conditions. He indicated
where the complex would be constructed. Mr. Sansaver
pointed out the location of the Visitor's Center west
and across from the Metro escalator canopy. He noted
the components of the Center: a stand-alone Visitor's
Center, including a welcoming and orientation area and
access to the NIH shuttle bus area, an automobile inspection
station for visitors entering the Campus, and a 350-car
underground parking facility, situated outside the secured
perimeter of the Campus.
Mr. Sansaver said that the Visitor's Center would comprise
the welcoming and orientation areas, five security stations,
with X-ray equipment and a magnetometer similar to that
used at airports, and an area for obtaining a visitor's
badge. After processing, he said that visitors would
proceed by interior Campus shuttle bus or walk to their
destinations.
Discussion
Mr. Robertson asked if there would be an employee pedestrian
gate accessible from the Metro area. Mr. Sansaver said
there would be separate turnstiles for employees to
enter without processing in the Visitor's Center. Mr.
Robertson asked how those using the parking garage would
proceed to the Visitor's Center. Mr. Sansaver said there
would be elevators to the upper level and the Metro
escalator area.
Mr. Oberlander asked the location of the visitor vehicle
entrance. Mr. Andres said a new entrance from Rockville
Pike would be installed. He said that a four-lane inspection
area for visitor vehicles permitted on Campus would
lead to a service road adjoining Center Drive. Other
visitors, instead of proceeding to the vehicle inspection
area, would be directed to the parking garage. Several
members were concerned about how this new entrance would
affect traffic flow on Rockville Pike. Mr. Andres said
that those approaching from the south on Rockville Pike
would not be able to turn left directly into the new
entrance. He said that the State would not permit a
traffic signal at this location to accommodate left
turns. He noted that a U-turn would be required at South
Drive to access the right turn entrance from Rockville
Pike. Lucy Ozarin, M.D., Whitehall Condominium Association,
said no U-turn was allowed there now. Mr. Andres said
that a signal with timing adjustments for this maneuver
would be installed. Mr. Oberlander asked how drivers
would know to make a U-turn. Mr. Andres said signs would
be posted for those approaching from the south, although
he thought most of the traffic would approach from the
Beltway [I-495] from the north.
Other members were concerned about how traffic would
return to the Beltway after exiting onto Rockville Pike
heading south from the visitor's vehicle roadway. Mr.
Andres said by making a series of right turns drivers
could return to the Beltway by going north on Old Georgetown
Road. Ms. Michaels disagreed with this as the way in
which drivers would get to the Beltway. She felt that
drivers would proceed east to Connecticut Avenue via
Jones Bridge Road. She cautioned that this would exacerbate
gridlock, because it necessitated crossing lanes on
Rockville Pike to turn left turn at Jones Bridge Road.
Mr. Sawicki and Ms. Michaels felt that pedestrians would
be endangered while traversing an entrance lacking a
traffic or pedestrian crossing signal. Mr. Sawicki noted
that pedestrians use the west side of Rockville Pike
to reach Metro from the pathway and from Bethesda's
business district. Ms. Michaels reported that vehicles
had already hit pedestrians in this area.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes emphasized that the traffic plan took
into account current traffic and did not add new traffic
to the roadways. She said that the NIH was working with
the County and State on this plan. Mr. Oberlander requested
a diagram of the vehicle and pedestrian approaches in
order to consider the redistribution of traffic in the
Visitor Center area.
Dr. Gallagher said that the meeting time was ending.
He suggested that this topic be continued during the
June 17, 2004, CLC meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting ended at 6 p.m.
ACTION ITEMS
- Mr. Sawicki said that he would send Dr. Gallagher
names and addresses of residents on McKinley Street
who were affected by the noise coming from the Porter
Building.
- Dr. Gallagher agreed to write to residents to update
them on efforts to resolve the noise coming from the
fans of the Porter Building.
- Dr. Gallagher agreed to invite NIH and security
personnel to discuss the operation of the CVI facility.
- Ms. Rhodes said that she would contact the design
team of Building 33 to have them consider the HVAC
[heating/air-conditioning] system to avoid any potential
noise disturbance to the community.
- Mr. Clifford agreed to work with Dr. Gallagher on
the possibility of scheduling a tour of the CRC.
- Dr. Gallagher agreed to continue discussion about
the visitor vehicle inspection entry from Rockville
Pike at the June CLC meeting.
CLC Members Present
- Lorraine Bell, Palladian Partners, Inc.
- Tom Gallagher, Ph.D., OCL, OD, NIH
- Morton Goldman, Sc.D., Luxmanor Citizens Association
- Jeanne Goldstein, Montgomery County Civic Federation
- Lesley Hildebrand, Huntington Terrace Citizens Association
- Nancy Hoos, Sonoma Citizens Association
- Debra Liverpool, YMCA, Bethesda-Chevy Chase/Ayrlawn
- Marilyn Mazuzan, Town of Oakmont
- Debbie Michaels, Glenbrook Village Homeowners Association
- Ginny Miller, Wyngate Citizens Association
- Walter Mitton, OCL, OD, NIH
- George Oberlander, Huntington Parkway Citizens Association
- Lucy Ozarin, M.D., Whitehall Condominium Association
- Eleanor Rice, Locust Hill Civic Association
- Tom Robertson, Parkwood Residents Association
- Sharon Robinson, OCL, OD, NIH
- Stephen N. Sawicki, Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association
- Ralph Schofer, Maplewood Citizens Association
- Stella Serras-Fiotes, AIA, Office of Research Facilities
Development and Operations, NIH
Guests
- Erwin N. Andres, Gorove/Slade Associates
- Jason Azar, View Engineering
- Anthony Clifford, ORF, NIH
- Chuck Crawford, IDB Architects
- Howard Hochman, DFP, NIH
- Joan Kleinman, U.S. Congressman Van Hollen's Office
- Martha Sansaver, IDB Architects
- Mike Sansaver, IDB Architects
- Mayre Sequeira, ORF, OD, NIH
- Chris Williams, Gazette
- Ron Wilson, OD, ORS, NIH
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