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After a sanitation effort to fumigate the facility for anthrax, the Washington D.C. P & DC in northeast D.C. underwent a complete renovation. Clark Construction Group, LLC served as general contractor on the 700,000-square-foot project for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
Before work began, the entire facility was environmentally cleaned of the chlorine dioxide residue that was generated during the decontamination process. The renovations included a significant amount of demolition to the ceilings, systems furniture, finishes and restrooms. An out-dated sack sorter, weighing 80 tons, also was demolished to allow for additional floor space. The MEP, elevator and escalator systems were recommissioned. Fire alarm, HVAC, access control, fire suppression and lighting systems were upgraded. A new structured wiring system was installed throughout the facility.
New finishes also were installed. Due to the size of the facility and USPS’s need to expedite the renovation, much of the work was completed using double shifts, seven days a week.
Along with Clark, postal maintenance employees were working inside the building testing and rebuilding mail-processing equipment. Since March 2003, crews have been allowed inside without protective suits or precautionary antibiotics. Five thousand air and surface samples were taken after fumigation in December 2002, and not a single anthrax spore turned up inside the low-rise, brick building that encompasses 17.5 million cubic feet.
On October 21, 2001, the Washington D.C. P & DC was shut and quarantined after anthrax was found in the facility. Two veteran mail sorters - Joseph P. Curseen and Thomas L. Morris Jr. - died of inhalational anthrax. The building has been renamed in their honor.
“Many will be happy to return to a place they can call home,” said Joseph E. Henry, president of Branch 142 of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
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