Montgomery Parks, Planning Departments Move To New HQ In Wheaton

WHEATON, MD — Montgomery County's parks and planning departments have moved to its new headquarters in Wheaton.

The headquarters — a 14-story building located at 2425 Reedie Drive — is now home to six county agencies including: the Department of Permitting Services; the Department of Environmental Protection, the Mid-County Regional Services Center; the Community Use of Public Facilities; the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Recreation.

The building includes a 200-seat auditorium for Planning Board meetings, a new town square, and an underground public parking garage. It's also one of the first LEED Platinum-certified government buildings in Maryland, according to county officials.

"We are really proud of this project and what it will mean for the Wheaton community," said Montgomery Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson. "I think this building is a great representation of sustainable planning and a model of co-location near transit with excellent design for the community."

LEED, which is short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized system that rewards sustainable development. A building can earn one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.

2425 Reedie Drive's sustainable features include:

• Geothermal heating and cooling, integral solar panels, green roof, and gray water reuse
• Streetscapes and a plaza designed to manage stormwater onsite
• A "living wall" in the building lobby
• Locally sourced building materials, energy-efficient lighting, and reused or manufactured furniture

About 900 government employees have moved into the new building this month. The headquarters were originally in Silver Spring.

"A lot of work went into making sure this building would set a new standard of excellence in the design of public facilities in Montgomery County," said Planning Director Gwen Wright. "While we are sad to leave downtown Silver Spring, we are very excited to call this beautiful building our new home."