Submitted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology

February 1, 2018

Information Presentation

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Campus Master Plan Background

Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Location

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3

Surrounding Context

NIST

N
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Surrounding Context

NIST

N
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Surrounding Context

NIST

residential N

parkland
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Surrounding Context

NIST

parkland

residential N
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Surrounding Context

N
• Rolling terrain, dotted with trees and wooded areas

• 62 buildings and structures, totaling over 3.6 million gross square feet of space

• 4,000 personnel (both employees and associates)

• Approximately half of the permanent buildings are currently over 50 years old

• Campus features modern architectural design of the late 1950s and the 1960s 

NIST

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Setting
• Rolling terrain, dotted with trees and wooded areas

• 62 buildings and structures, totaling over 3.6 million gross square feet of space

• 4,000 personnel (both employees and associates)

• Approximately half of the permanent buildings are currently over 50 years old

• Campus features modern architectural design of the late 1950s and the 1960s 

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Setting

NIST
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Master Planning History

• Many of the 1960’s-era buildings needed modernization.

• Many of the 1972 master plan projects were never constructed due to lack of funding.

• Many of the 2009 projects were constructed with “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” funding.

2009 Campus Plan
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD

Campus Master Plan

Background Information

for the

National Capital Planning Commission

February 1, 2018

United States Department of Commerce
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National Institute of Standards and Technology

Mission: To promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing 

measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic 

security and improve our quality of life.

• Founded in 1901 as National Bureau of Standards, NIST is a non-regulatory 

agency and Federal research laboratory in the US Department of Commerce

• Relocated from Washington DC to Gaithersburg in 1960’s as NIST HQ

• Additional NIST owned locations in Boulder & Ft. Collins, CO and Kauai, HI

• National presence through research coops/agreements, Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership Centers, and advanced Manufacturing USA Institutes

NIST 1964

Example NIST Services:

• Calibration Services

• Standard Reference Materials

• Lab Accreditation 

• Time Services
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• Acoustics

• Additive manufacturing

• Biochemistry

• Biology

• Biotechnology

• Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

• Computer science

• Dimensional metrology

• Engineering

• Fire Research

• Forensic Science

• Materials Science 

• Mathematics and Statistics

• Mechanical Engineering

• Medical Physics

• Metallurgy

• Molecular Biology

• Nanotechnology

• Neutron Research

• Quantum Physics

• Robotics

• Structural Engineering

• Wireless Communications
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Current Drivers

• Aging buildings with obsolete systems

• Poor Lab Environmental Controls, 

limiting research

• Outdated site infrastructure

• Security & circulation issues at Gates

Common Issues

• Historic District Context

• Stormwater management

• Pedestrian connections

• Parking

• Landscape – unity & maintenance

• Energy Efficiency & Sustainability

Future Requirements: 20 Years

• Precision measurement and flexible 

labs for expected program growth

• Specialty labs for planned research

• Office space for improved utilization 

and expected 27% staff increase

• CCT driven changes & linkages
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• Establish a framework for future development (20-year horizon)

• Meet near and long-term needs of the campus in support of NIST 

research mission

• Maintain attractive campus environment

• Respect & embrace campus historic district designation

• Advance NIST and DoC sustainable design goals
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• Space Program represents current needs for upgrade & replacement 

as well as anticipated growth in research programs.

• Growth projections based on planned research programs by 

Laboratories, and related support by administrative organizations.

• Staff projections are in line with the historic growth patterns.
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Gate A 

Modification

Specialty Labs

Gate F 

Modification

Gate A 

Modification

Core Development
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The original NBS Campus, ca. 1930 Chemistry Building Ground Breaking, 1916

Stone Gate Post and Gate at Upton Street Relocated Post and Gate at Gaithersburg 
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View looking South: note the combination of new landscape design 

elements such as allee of trees, and the retention of natural landscape 

elements such as forested area to the top right
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1964 1975

2000 2017
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1964, view looking west 2017, view looking west

1964, view of Library from arcade 2017, view of Library and adjoining arcade
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Architect’s original rendering of Cafeteria Proposed refurbishment, 2017 

courtesy of OKKS Studios/Delta Engineers

Contemporary views and original plan of the Courtyard, photos courtesy of Jason Stoughton, NIST
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Built 1964, Chart 

of the Nuclides in 

glass block wall
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Building 215: Nano-Fabrication Building 217: Advanced Measurement Laboratory (Precision)

Building 227: General Purpose Laboratory Building 225: Typical General Purpose Laboratory

Building 220: General Purpose Laboratory
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Building 318: Emergency Services Building

Building 320: Childcare Center 

Building 302: Steam and Chilled Water Plant

Building 301: Supply and Plant Building

Building 304: Shops (Instrument)
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Masonry Test Wall South Pond

Building 101 Entry

Allée along North Drive 

North Pond

Prominent Landscape Features
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NIST Campus as a Historic District is recognized for:

• Association with 

developments in science 

and technology

• Significant example of 

Post-WW II research 

campus design

Implications:

• NIST is the Steward of all 

cultural resources within 

the campus

• All buildings constructed 

in 1960’s are contributing 

resources to the District

• Campus improvements 

are reviewed for 

compliance with federal 

preservation standards
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• 50 year old infrastructure systems have outlived their useful life & are 

energy inefficient

• Lack of temperature stability

• Lack of humidity control

• Lack of vibration control

• Inadequate quality & quantity of power

• Deficiencies in piped services to labs

• Lack of sprinkler systems for fire protection

• General degradation in infrastructure equipment & distribution

• No redundancy of infrastructure systems

• Components for legacy equipment are difficult to obtain

• Building exterior envelopes are uninsulated and not energy efficient

Aged research facilities are unable to support precision 

measurements and research: 

Building 225: Typ. General Purpose Lab (1964)
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Phase I includes:

• Collect & analyze data

• Assess impacts of regulations & polices

• Review recent & ongoing planning studies

• Conduct OU interviews/questionnaires

• Conduct employee survey

• Develop a master plan program

• Prepare alternatives & select master plan concept

• Initiate NEPA tasks

Phase II:

• Develop draft Master Plan and draft Environmental Assessment (EA)

Phase III:

• Develop final Master Plan, EA and ROD or FONSI

Contextual Analysis

• Regional Analysis

• Natural and Built 

Environment

• Circulation & 

Transportation

• Utility Infrastructure
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Gate A 

Modification

Specialty Labs

Gate F 

Modification

Gate A 

Modification

Core Development
QUESTIONS / DISCUSSION

United States Department of Commerce