To strengthen its focus on advocacy, the American Chemistry Council will move from Arlington, Va., into new leased space near Capitol Hill in downtown Washington, in June 2010.
``Over the last few years, we have redirected the mission of the ACC to focus on advocacy,'' President Cal Dooley said in a Dec. 17 telephone interview. ``It is prudent for us to relocate to Capitol Hill because so much of our work involves interaction with elected officials and staffs of important committees, and working with others who are located closer to downtown Washington.
``The move will enhance our work on legislative issues and regulatory affairs and make it easier to communicate and meet with people on Capitol Hill and our allies in the value chain.''
The ACC, which employs 195, will move into 90,000 square feet on the top three floors of Station Place Three, an eight-story building that is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified under Green Building Initiative programs.
``It allows us to be in an environmentally friendly green building that uses a lot of building materials that are more energy-efficient,'' Dooley said. ``With energy and efficiency being an important topic, it allows us to showcase advances.''
Dooley said Station Place Three will have ``a power plant and heating and cooling units that are state-of-the-art, exterior windows with coatings that are more energy-efficient, better insulation and energy-saving lighting. A whole host of new products and technologies have been incorporated in this new space.''
ACC currently leases 140,000 square feet of space in Arlington, but subleases some of that space to other organizations, including the Vinyl Institute, which will be moving to Alexandria, Va., this spring.
``We do not have the need for the square footage we currently have, so we actually will be downsizing'' the space, he said.
ACC's new leased space won't cost any more than what the association might have paid had it stayed in its current location, he said. He added that the costs will be comparable to what ACC might have paid had it renewed its current lease, particularly because of investments in renovation that would have been needed.
``The space will offer greater value for our members coming to participate in ACC committee meetings and activities because it will help them interact more easily with elected officials,'' Dooley said. ``The proximity to Capitol Hill, to member companies and to other associations will enhance our effectiveness and efficiency.''