The architecture of Children's National Medical Center falls between the Modernism style and Late-Modernism style. The original building was built in the 1970s, with the addition of the west wing in the 1990s, and the east wing and decontamination building in the last two years. The additional wings match the style of the original building, while the decontamination building is a separate entity. Most of the exterior is a tempered glass curtain wall patterned to shape the entire building like an accordian.

Curtain wall - more to come...

Metal Siding - The emergency department, on the eastern side of the building has an exterior facade of aluminum siding on a metal stud wall with hat channels and 1" thick denz glass.

EIFS - The decontamination building is housed in a metal stud wall covered in Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), also known as synthetic stucco.

Roof - The roof on the building is a tar and gravel system on tapered insulation.

Original Building – The structure of the original building is structural steel with composite one-way concrete slabs.  The bays are 60’ x 30’ typical with the 60’ dimension spanning east to west.  As-built drawings of the original structure could not be obtained, and the exact size of the structural steel members is unknown.  Typical finish floor to finish ceiling height is 10’-0” with 3’-6” of plenum space to the bottom of the interstitial decking.  Interstitial floor to ceiling height is 7’-7”.  The typical slab thickness is 6.25” concrete on metal deck for the occupied floors.  The interstitial floors have a 7 ½”-7.5 DC 16/16 cellular metal roof deck with no concrete or finished flooring.  The interstitial decking is supported by tube steel and 12WF36 beams typical.

West Wing – The west wing is of identical construction to the original building with exception to a few bays of size 30’ x 30’ in the most northwest corner of the building.

East Wing – The newest addition of the east wing is composed of bays of 30’ x 30’ typical.  The columns are all of W14 type. The smallest interior beam is a W14x22 and the smallest structural member is a W8x10 beam supporting a 6’-0” cantilever.  A north-south moment frame structure is created by moment connections in the structural steel. The slabs are 3 ¼” lightweight concrete of 3000 psi strength on 3” (20 Ga) metal deck.

The original mechanical system in the building is complex due to the major changes it has gone through since its conception.  It was designed to use interstitial floor levels to house all the components of the HVAC system and allow for more flexibility in changing the layout of each floor.  The system now uses the interstitial floors as housing for the components as prescribed by design.  It acts as an extra large plenum space.
                       

The mechanical renovations for the surgery expansion project required the demolition and removal of all duct work, air devices, dampers, valves, fittings, hangers, insulation and piping unless noted.  The contractor will cut, cap and make safe at the level of the metal decking any penetrations no longer in use.  Most existing thermostats and connections are to be removed as well.  The hot and chilled water lines, low pressure steam and medical gas lines are also being removed.   Four air-conditioning units are being removed, and replacement for the nitrous oxide manifold is being considered. 
All necessary duct work and piping required for the new layout will be installed.  A new medium pressure steam line will be installed for sterilization purposes.  Special focus will be on the installation of the new air-handling unit custom designed to handle the two new surgery suites.  The new unit has a maximum capacity of 17,000 CFM, but it is designed for future use, and will be operating at a maximum capacity of 8,500 CFM at occupancy. 

The primary feed into the building is 480Y/277 V 3Ø.  Main electrical feeds for the surgery expansion project are located on the fifth floor.  Power is dispersed throughout the building with the use of 2500 KVA network transformers and 4000A network substations housing 3P-800A circuit breakers.  The largest emergency generator is 1360 KW, and is supported with multiple 900 KW backup emergency generators. 
                        Construction for the surgery expansion includes the installation of twenty-five (25) new panelboards, and relocating three (3) panelboards.  The panelboards range in size from 800A to 50A and are both 480Y/277V and 208Y/120V.  Eighteen (18) new transformers are to be installed, including eight (8) 120V-24VAC. 

All the existing lighting is being removed and replaced with new fixtures.  The fixtures are primarily fluorescent or high intensity discharge, with a few incandescent fixtures in the office areas.  Fixture sizes include 2’x2’, 2’x4’, 1’x4’ (in the operating rooms only), and smaller recessed fixtures.  Variations in the fixtures include parabolic louvers, dual ballasts for dimming capabilities, and switching intricacies.  Aside from emergency circuiting, there is also a night light circuit for use during reduced occupancy.

A sprinkler system is already in place in this section of the building, so little work is required.  During construction the sprinkler heads will be turned to the upright position, and reversed upon finishing.  New alarms and alarm stations will be installed, and any new sprinklers required to bring the renovation up to the latest code.

New data lines will be installed to support the staff offices, operating rooms and medical equipment.  A nurse call system, and paging system are to be installed as well.  Two zones will be set up for the paging system, to include the operating rooms, offices and lockers in one, and the waiting room in another.