Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus

Since then, the institute has grown into an internationally recognized powerhouse for advanced research, innovation and education. In 2021, the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus (CNRIC) opened on a 12-acre section of the historic Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

Acentech partnered with Elkus Manfredi on the renovation of buildings 53, 54 and 54X throughout all phases of design and construction.

Our acoustics recommendations for Building 53 included sound isolation, room finishes and building MEP noise and vibration control for the 300-seat auditorium, which now hosts innovation summits, symposiums and community gatherings. We also provided acoustical consulting for the office suite below, with challenges due to a low floor-to-floor height.

Buildings 54 and 54X encompassed a 132K gut renovation, transforming the outdated structure into state-of-the-art laboratories, offices and support spaces. Our core and shell assessment included the review of base-building MEP systems to define noise and vibration control criteria, and partition construction review to ensure occupant comfort and appropriate acoustics in the updated spaces.

This new research campus, affiliated with Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC and Virginia Tech, among other industry and academic partners, advances Washington, D.C. as one of the fastest-growing life science and biotechnology hubs in the nation.