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ANDREW W. BREIDENBACH ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
The research center is the EPA's second largest facility nationwide. Along with extensive renovations within the existing facility, SFA Architects designed a 78,000 square-foot annex building to accommodate the client's staff. The plan called for a low-rise building adjacent to a high-rise laboratory facility. The program involved office spaces for fifty-three people including conference rooms, data storage and computer rooms, high density file storage and centralized security areas.
Given the imposing nature of the existing concrete structure, it was decided a contrasting material palette would be used. Dark glass and stainless steel were selected to set-off and highlight the material of the existing building. A light scoop was designed to mediate with the difference in height between the two buildings, while providing daylighting the offices within.
The design visually provides signature punctuation to the overall facility as well as seamlessly integrating the client's complex programmatic requirements for resultant project that exceeds the owner's expectations.