BALTIMORE, MD (August 23, 2002) -- The Maryland Department of the Environment's (MDE) long-anticipated move to the Montgomery Park Business Center is coming to fruition as the first offices prepare to move this week. This move is the culmination of a major procurement and intense planning process that began more than two years ago.
The Montgomery Park Business Center is located in southwest Baltimore at Washington Boulevard and Monroe Street in the former Montgomery Ward regional distribution center. MDE's new address will be: 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, Md. 21230. The department's new central phone number is (410) 537-3000.
"We are excited about moving into our new headquarters. Governor Glendening's Smart Growth and conservation initiatives and principles will be exemplified in this building and set the example for environmental responsibility for state facilities," said MDE's Acting Secretary Merrylin Zaw-Mon.
Using "green building" technology, the facility includes the use of recycled materials in construction. Water conservation systems, such as low-water and rainwater bathroom fixtures, will achieve and exceed the 10 percent water conservation goal set by the Governor for state facilities. The state-of-the-art energy management system, which includes reduced wattage lighting, occupancy and light level sensors and an ice-pond cooling system, among other features, is anticipated to save up to 50 percent of MDE's current energy costs.
A portion of the building will feature a "green roof" which helps to control storm water runoff and aids in insulation by preventing roof heat-up. Approximately 60,000 glass panes were replaced with efficient windows that enhance light penetration and reduce heat emissions.
Many waste materials produced by the deconstruction and construction processes are being recycled or salvaged. All the old existing radiators, window frames, conduit, trash chutes, elevator shafts were recycled, and the old window glass was crushed and incorporated into the asphalt of the parking lots.
The project is consistent with Governor's Smart Growth initiatives in its rehabilitation and re-use of older buildings. The building epitomizes these Smart Growth initiatives in its location within an Enterprise Zone, an Empowerment Zone and an urban renewal area for Baltimore City with front-door service by three bus lines and easy access to Interstate 95, Interstate 295 and Route 1.
The physical move will occur over three consecutive weekends scheduled to begin on Friday, Aug. 23. Most employees will be moving into built-in workstations constructed of recycled materials in an innovative open-office design.
"Great planning by staff from both MDE and the Maryland Department of General Services went into designing the facility and to making the future use of MDE's new space a positive and rewarding experience," said Zaw-Mon.
"The procurement for this facility was unique for Maryland state government because of its size (262,300 square feet requested), and it contained requirements and incentives for prospective bidders to meet Smart Growth requirements and include 'green building' features," said Lorrie Del Pizzo, MDE's relocation coordinator. "Montgomery Park LLC's proposal included innovative features designed to make their 1.3 million square foot, 75-year-old building a model of energy and resource efficiency."
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