Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) recently celebrated the opening of its Mount Vernon Square Metrorail expansion, a station that connects to the new Washington D.C. Convention Center — making it the first convention center in the United States to have its own subway station. Clark Foundations, a subsidiary of The Clark Construction Group Inc., completed the $14-million project.

“Metrorail customers will be able to walk directly from our mezzanine into the lobby of the new Washington Convention Center without having to go outdoors,” said Richard A. White, CEO of Metro. “We expect that, as in the case with the MCI Center, approximately 50 percent of people attending events at the new convention center will use Metrorail as their primary mode of transportation.”

The expansion includes a 9,000-sq.-ft. (836 sq m) enlarged passageway area highlighted by Metro’s characteristic paver tile and metal pan ceiling design. A clean EIFS finish on the concrete walls completes the interior. Passengers have the option of reaching their destination via one of four escalators or two stainless steel clad and glass-enclosed elevators. A set of granite steps with dual stainless steel lighted handrails also provides adequate egress for all visitors. An upper level of the expansion, beyond the view of the public, includes miscellaneous maintenance and operations rooms including mechanical, electrical, and communications equipment and facilities. A utility tunnel also was constructed beneath 7th Street, bringing necessary power and communications from the existing station to the new facility.

The joint venture architectural team of Thompson Ventulett Stainbeck & Associates, Devrouax & Purnell and Mariani Architects Engineers provided design services for this project. The team also included Jackson & Tull of Washington, D.C., structural engineer and Henry Adams of Silver Spring, MD, mechanical/electrical engineer.

Clark Construction and its joint venture partner, the Sherman R. Smoot Corporation were the construction managers of the new 2.3 million-sq.-ft. (213,677 sq m) Washington D.C. Convention Center, the largest public works project ever in the District.

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