Clark Construction, a leading construction company based in Bethesda, Maryland, has been awarded a $524 million contract to build a new headquarters for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in Washington, D.C. 

This project is commissioned by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The new CISA headquarters will be located on the St. Elizabeths West campus, a sprawling 176-acre site east of the Anacostia River, which is already home to several DHS offices. The facility will span 630,000 square feet, making it a critical addition to the campus. CISA, the nation’s primary agency for cyber defense and the protection of critical infrastructure, will be the main occupant of this state-of-the-art building.

This contract, valued at $524 million, is a major investment in the federal government’s infrastructure, with approximately $115.8 million coming from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds. This allocation represents the GSA’s largest single IRA project investment to date.

Elliot Doomes, GSA’s Public Buildings Service Commissioner, highlighted the importance of the project in a statement: “The construction of this headquarters underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s cyber landscape. Our work here also demonstrates how we can incorporate sustainable practices.”

Sustainability is a key focus of the new CISA headquarters, as the building is designed to set a new standard for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in federal buildings. The project will feature advanced energy-efficient systems, including chilled beams, energy recovery ventilation, and a high-performance building envelope. These features are expected to reduce the building’s energy use intensity by 72% compared to typical office buildings in the region.

In addition to energy efficiency, the project aims to achieve LEED Gold v4 certification, a prestigious recognition for buildings that meet high standards of environmental sustainability. The construction will incorporate low-embodied carbon materials such as asphalt, concrete, glass, and steel. These materials are associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions during their production, aligning with the Biden-Harris administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which prioritizes the use of environmentally friendly building materials.

The headquarters' construction is part of a broader effort to consolidate DHS operations on the St. Elizabeths West campus. Clark Construction is no stranger to this location, having previously worked on the $435 million U.S. Coast Guard headquarters project over a decade ago. The addition of the CISA headquarters further cements the campus as a central hub for DHS operations.

Robin Carnahan, GSA Administrator, expressed the significance of the project in a statement: “The CISA project is a flagship example of how the Biden-Harris administration is fulfilling its commitment to invest in America, both here in Washington, D.C., and all across the country. St. Elizabeth is a place where thousands of dedicated public servants work to keep America safe and explore new technologies, so construction will support those goals.”

Construction of the new headquarters is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024, with completion expected by 2027. The $115.8 million in IRA funding includes $80 million dedicated to the purchase of low-embodied carbon materials and about $35 million allocated to meeting high-performance criteria. This is part of the broader $3.4 billion that the IRA has earmarked for the GSA to support environmentally responsible construction practices.

Joe Hogan, Group CEO of Clark Construction, emphasized the dual importance of the project, stating, “This facility will help safeguard our nation’s cyber landscape while setting new standards in sustainable building for federal agencies.”