Smithsonian to relocate several programs to Landover

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007

Smithsonian to relocate several programs to Landover

Federal agency bringing 60 employees to enterprise zone site

by Liza Gutierrez | Staff Writer

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The Smithsonian Institution, a national educational facility with multiple museums and research centers, plans to consolidate and relocate several of its programs from three different locations in the Washington, D.C., region to a renovated building in Landover by next fall.

Collections, a library, exhibit production, conservation facilities and a security training center will be centralized in a 360,000-square-foot building at 3400 Pennsy Drive owned by Trammell Crow Co., a development and real estate investment company headquartered in Dallas. About 60 current Smithsonian employees would transfer, if they choose, to the new location, said Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas.

No programs for the public will be held at the Landover site.

Leases for the three facilities the Smithsonian occupies in the District, Springfield, Va., and Newington, Va., will expire next year, St. Thomas said.

The institution would have had to get a fourth location for future growth related to work on the upcoming National Museum of African American History and Culture, its 19th museum, if a large enough site for consolidation wasn’t found, she said.

The new building’s size and proximity to major highways and public transportation, not far from the New Carrollton and Landover Metro stations, made it an attractive site, according to St. Thomas. ‘‘It was a good location for us,” she said.

The Landover facility was the Smithsonian’s preferred site, said Kwasi G. Holman, president and CEO of the county Economic Development Corp., ‘‘but they did have other alternatives that they were actively considering.”

This is also a significant development for the area’s enterprise zone.

‘‘Having a major employer like the Smithsonian naturally attracts other amenities like restaurants and retail that will serve that population,” Holman said.

There had been concerns about being able to meet an October 2008 deadline for occupancy, but county officials worked with planning and permitting agencies to ensure Trammell Crow Co. was able to meet the timeframe.

‘‘I am pleased that the Economic Development Corporation and [Deputy Chief Administrative Officer] David Byrd were able to coordinate our agency responses in a tight time frame,” said County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) in a statement.

Arthur Turner Jr., president of the Coalition of Central Prince George’s Community Organizations is excited about the project and hopes that other government and state facilities make their home in the county.

‘‘I’ve long been an advocate for community office development, and it’s my prayer that as a result of the Smithsonian coming, there will be other tenants that see the need in locating in Prince George’s County,” Turner said.

Holman said the Smithsonian’s relocation is a sign for those interested in the county.

‘‘This should indicate to other federal agencies that the county is open for business, and that we will aggressively pursue federal office tenants who are considering locations in the county,” Holman said.

Natalie McGill contributed to this report.