Intelsat headquarters

3400 International Drive
Pod intersection in an atrium at the Intelsat Headquarters Intersection of two pods at an atrium
Alternative names	Intelsat Headquarters
General information
Type	Corporate headquarters
Architectural style	High-tech
Address	3400 International Drive, NW
Town or city	Washington
Coordinates
Current tenants	Intelsat
Groundbreaking	July 20, 1982
Completed	1984, 1988
Dimensions
Other dimensions	14 pods
Technical details
Floor count	7
Floor area	917,000 sq ft (85,200 m2)
Design and construction
Architect	John Andrews
Architecture firm	John Andrews International and Notter Finegold & Alexander
Civil engineer	Richard Strong

3400 International Drive (also known as Intelsat Headquarters) is an office complex in the North Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C. by the Van Ness metro station designed by the Australian architect John Andrews and built by Gilbane Building Company. Formerly used as the U.S. headquarters of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat), it is known for its futuristic, high-tech architecture.

Structure

John Andrews won the 1980 International Union of Architects international competition to design the complex. The competition had taken place in 1979 with nearly 100 firms from 23 countries competing for the contract to design the complex. Ground was broken on the project on July 20, 1982 in a rather unusual manner. Using a network of four satellites and five earth stations, a signal was radioed around the world two times before it triggered a pre-set explosion at the building site. The complex was built in two phases, with Phase I being completed first in 1984 and Phase II following in 1988. While Andrews' contribution was positively cited as that of a creative professional, the project was marred by the embezzlement of five million dollars by Intelsat's director general and deputy.

File:Intelsat headquarters aerial colorized.png

Aerial view of the complex

The complex consists of fourteen interconnected rectangular "pods" clustered in groups of four around taller glass and stainless steel atria. The circular stairwells external to the pods are constructed of glass bricks and concrete. Unusual for the time, the design incorporate environmentally conscious elements that contribute to energy efficiency, such as the use of tinted-glass sunscreens and the open-air atria that admit sunlight while reflecting direct sun. Also, the complex incorporates interior and exterior water features for cooling and terraced roof gardens to complement the large trees preserved by the site plan.

While the building is 917,000 square feet (85,200 m²), only 546,000 sq ft (50,700 m²) is usable office space, with the remainder being taken up by the lengthy corridor down the center of the building, the atria, and other public spaces.

Intelsat was the initial occupant, but after its privatization in 1999 and its later mergers with PanAmSat, COMSAT and parts of Loral, its continued presence at the site has been uncertain. This is partially as it is looking for a smaller complex. Other occupants include the embassies of Belize, Botswana and Swaziland and formerly included WJLA Channel 7.

Reception

The Connecticut Avenue entrance

Andrews said his design expressed "a spirit of openness, of optimism, of faith in cooperation between peoples and groups of people, and the use of modern technology." However, since its construction, reception has been mixed. Some consider it "a Connecticut Avenue landmark and a must-see for futurists touring the nation’s capital" because of its unique high-tech design and energy efficiency. Early in its existence, it was noted as being a positive repudiation of architectural conservatism, however, its style was not duplicated and therefore it stands out from the surrounding city.

Other critics also note that it does not interact well with the surrounding buildings and add that it can be difficult for visitors to find the entrance given its odd shape and placement. As of 2005 it had been studied by the Historic Preservation Section of the D.C. Office of Planning as a potential landmark of Modern architecture, but a 2011 architectural-historical review of the area as part of the University of the District of Columbia's student center construction planning found that Intelsat was not old enough for landmark status and was a "visual shock" to the neighborhood, given its arguably inappropriate design and sitting for an urban area. The review did indicate that this opinion could change as the building aged further.