Military Construction

D.C. Navy Yard building, site of mass shooting, will be renovated

A remembrance area and a new visitor's entrance will be among the changes when the Navy rebuilds Building 197 of the Washington Navy Yard, where a gunman killed 12 people and then was killed in a shooting spree in September 2013. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus decided against demolishing Building 197, former headquarters of Naval Sea Systems Command, and instead ordered restoration of the building.
Jan. 14, 2014

A remembrance area and a new visitor's entrance will be among the changes when the Navy rebuilds Building 197 of the Washington Navy Yard, where a gunman killed 12 people and then was killed in a shooting spree in September 2013.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus decided against demolishing Building 197, former headquarters of Naval Sea Systems Command, and instead ordered restoration of the building.

The building was badly damaged by the gunfire and has been vacant in the months since. Many of the 3,000 naval employees who worked inside Building 197 have been relocated. Renovation is anticipated to be completed in early 2015.

The building’s cafeteria will also be renovated. A large group of employees were in the cafeteria for breakfast and heard the gunshots when the shootings began.

(http://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Building-197-New-Details-Revealed-for-Navy-Yard-Building-197-Site-of-Deadly-Shooting-236090521.html)

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
Show more
Sign up for Building Design+Construction Newsletters