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Construction and cooperation on the frontlines of COVID-19 – 26 Federal Plaza Backfill and Renovation

Edited by Ben Zabava

Large room under construction, with a wall of shaded windows on the left and unfinished ceiling and floor covered in dropcloths
Ongoing work at the 26 Federal Plaza backfill and renovation of floors 16-21 in lower Manhattan. Photograph by Tom Zick.

GSA’s partnerships with client agencies have been instrumental in keeping the federal government’s most critical construction projects moving forward, in spite of the challenge of COVID-19. Such is the case even in Region 2, for so long comprising much of the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States.

“Our region’s major construction projects are some of the largest in the country,” said GSA Region 2 Administrator John A. Sarcone, III. “I am truly proud of the hundreds of workers we have helped keep employed throughout this pandemic, and of the impact continuing this work is having on our local economy and the spirit of our nation.”

The following is the last of a three-part series of interviews conducted with GSA project managers and client agency officials for their perspectives on the status of the region’s major construction projects during COVID-19.

In Part 3, Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney and Project Manager James Kennedy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Supervisory Project Manager Tom Zick of GSA’s Public Buildings Service Region 2 Project Management Division, discuss progress on the $100 million backfill and renovation of floors 16-21 at 26 Federal Plaza in New York.

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How was the 26 Federal Plaza Backfill and Renovation project progressing before COVID-19?

James Kennedy, FBI: FBI is working with GSA to vacate an existing lease in Manhattan’s Chelsea District and relocate to new space further downtown at 26 Federal Plaza. FBI must vacate its existing Chelsea lease by the end of September 2020. Prior to COVID-19, the project to renovate the new space in 26 Federal Plaza was behind schedule; however, GSA was – and is – working diligently to accelerate activities to meet the FBI deadline.

Tom Zick, GSA: We had just hit some major milestones and were working with the general contractor on finalizing the schedule to deliver the project early. The contractor was gearing up to have increased crew sizes, working right behind one another to reduce time on the schedule.

How has COVID-19 affected the project?

Kennedy: COVID-19 has affected multiple aspects of this project from construction workers contracting the virus to factories/suppliers shutting down, as well as travel restrictions for FBI's Washington, D.C.-based team. None of these challenges have stopped the project. GSA, the general contractor, and FBI are working together positively in this new environment to ensure the new space will be ready for occupancy this summer.

Zick: COVID-19 created many challenges that the team had to work together to overcome. The positive testing of some workers for COVID-19 created not only a loss of resources for some key members of the team, but also anxiety for many of the remaining workers on-site, as well as other stakeholders who frequent the site. To help ease fears and create a safer work environment, the general contractor created a thorough COVID-19 plan, which included Personal Protective Equipment, disinfecting of the site, and social distancing guidelines. Under the leadership of our GSA Regional Administrator John Sarcone, GSA and FBI worked together with the New York City Department of Transportation to obtain enough vehicle parking placards so construction workers and contractor personnel could keep commuting to and from the job site each day while avoiding mass transit. In addition to the on-site workers being affected by COVID-19, multiple manufacturers indicated COVID-related stoppages within their factories, causing delays to delivery dates for certain pieces of equipment. Some of the client agency's furniture vendors even indicated that they had transitioned their manufacturing of furniture to focusing on producing beds for hospitals.

A hallway under construction with elevator doors along both sides, an unfinished ceiling and ladders and other materials
Ongoing work at the 26 Federal Plaza backfill and renovation of floors 16-21 in lower Manhattan. Photograph courtesy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

What has been the biggest adjustment made to the project?

Zick: The biggest adjustment made to the project has been the means of communication and management on the project. With the GSA project management team teleworking since the beginning of the pandemic, we have had to rely on our construction manager and GSA building management staff to be our eyes and ears on-site. The construction management team, design team and general contractor's management staff have all been working in a reduced capacity, taking shifts for on-site representation. Project meetings have been mostly virtual, and any on-site walkthroughs have been small groups, following social distancing guidelines. While there was a learning curve to making this adjustment, the project team quickly acclimated to this new way of management and communication.

Kennedy: We have conducted a large number of video teleconference calls and managed an enormous amount of digital information while teleworking. Issues that were previously handled in person are now solved through video teleconferences and/or multiple emails. COVID-19 has changed the way we do business from sitting around conference tables or walking construction sites to managing the project through web-based meeting platforms, email, and other virtual collaboration tools. Fortunately, prior to COVID-19, all agencies and firms on this project had instituted the needed technology to allow for teleworking and sharing information remotely.

How currently complete is the project?

Zick: The project is roughly 70% complete.

How happy are you with the work being done and current schedule of the project?

Kennedy: Extremely happy! The amount of work needed to coordinate this project through multiple challenging situations (i.e., typical project challenges compounded by COVID-19 challenges) and keep the project moving forward is a testament to the dedicated professionals supporting this project.

Is the project on schedule? What is the current projected completion date?

Zick: While COVID-19 caused various delays to the project, the team was able to work around many of those delays to minimize the overall project delay to just three weeks. Even with the delay, the project is currently on schedule, with a projected substantial completion date of late July 2020. This completion date allows GSA to relocate the client agency ahead of its lease expiration date.

Kennedy: Expected occupancy is August 2020.

Large room under construction with four rows of workstations facing a large wall of screens
Ongoing work at the 26 Federal Plaza backfill and renovation of floors 16-21 in lower Manhattan. Photograph courtesy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Why is the project important to the FBI?

William F. Sweeney, FBI: Our footprint in New York City has expanded over the years, which has allowed us to better serve this community. However, the physical walls we work in have not expanded with our growth. Now, with the tremendous work being done at 26 Federal Plaza by GSA, we will take a big leap forward in consolidating many of the agents and professional staff in one space, allowing for better collaboration and interaction. The work they do is so vital to the security of our country, and providing a state-of-the-art work space is just as important.

As a GSA employee, why are you proud of the project?

Zick: I'm proud that this project is supporting the very critical mission of the client agency, and the entire project team remains engaged to deliver this project on time. The project had already overcome many challenges, and with this latest challenge, it seems that the team stepped up their efforts across the board to allow the project to continue to progress. This project could not be a success if it weren't for the trust developed between stakeholders and the shared ownership that each stakeholder has taken in the project. 

Is there any last thing you would like to say about this project?

Kennedy: In 15 years of working with GSA, the team they have put together to manage this project is the best I have seen. They have a personal commitment to ensuring this project is a success for the FBI.

Zick: While the GSA project management team is continuing to manage this project remotely, I hold the utmost respect and gratitude for the workers who are travelling to the site each day and keeping the project progressing. This team includes our GSA building management staff who continue to operate the building – with added safeguards – and support the project's needs. Without their efforts, this project couldn’t continue.

For more information about GSA design and construction services, please visit: gsa.gov/real-estate/design-and-construction-overview.

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Construction and cooperation on the frontlines of COVID-19 

The complete three-part series:

Part 1 — Alexandria Bay Land Port of Entry
Part 2 — Lewiston Land Port of Entry
Part 3 — 26 Federal Plaza Backfill and Renovation

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Last updated: Jan 30, 2024
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