Our Projects

NIH Building 29B Complex Renovation, Bethesda, MD

This project renovated 90,000 SF of labs and offices in Building 29B across five floors. Upgrades ranged from minor office updates to full lab reconfigurations, with the conference room receiving an advanced lighting control system designed by CFR.

The basement vivarium was demolished and rebuilt to house freezer farms, insectaries, and BSL-2 lab space, requiring new utilities like emergency power, lab waste treatment, gas lines, and a dedicated liquid nitrogen service. An equalization system was added for lab waste treatment. The updated facility will support scientists with general and bio-safety level labs, analytical spaces, and administrative areas for cell bank production, fermentation, and drug purification.

NIH Building 31C 6th Floor Conference Center Renovation, Bethesda, MD

This project provided project management, MEP and structural engineering, architectural, AV, acoustic design, and cost estimating services for the 12,000 SF renovation of the 6th-floor conference center in Building 31C, which hosts 14,000 meetings annually. The goal was to enhance floor plan efficiency, storage, lighting, HVAC, and overall flexibility.

Demolition was requested down to the columns, and the redesign included HVAC controls for all conference rooms and a dedicated cooling system for the new A/V room housing five racks. Renovations involved enlarging conference rooms, upgrading HVAC and lighting, modifying fire egress, updating AV systems, and optimizing storage and layout.

Element 28 Apartments, Bethesda, MD

This project involved MEP engineering for a 145,000 SF high-rise with 13 residential floors, a two-story retail and amenity space, and a 47,000 SF three-level underground parking garage. The building includes 101 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The parking garage, designed for car lifts, fits about 100 vehicles.

The HVAC system uses a VRV system, with corridors ventilated by rooftop units providing gas-fired heating and electric cooling. Plumbing was designed to meet code, and a new fire protection system was installed to provide full-building sprinklers per NFPA 13 standards. This project has been awarded an LEED Gold Certification.

Association Of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Headquarters Expansion, Silver Spring, MD

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) was founded over 50 years ago as a forum for state public health lab directors and has since expanded to include government labs in public health, environmental, agricultural, and food safety fields. The design team initially studied expansion options for APHL’s headquarters before providing full design and MEP engineering services.

The project expanded APHL’s space to the entire 7th floor (25,618 SF), adding open and private offices, team rooms, a conference center, media and teleconferencing areas, a high-tech media room, and support spaces. Distance learning features include smart boards, projection screens, and adjustable lighting for multimedia presentations. This project has been awarded an LEED Gold Certification.

Matan Herrick Technology Labs, 1st Floor Tenant Fit-Out, Germantown, MD

The project involved MEP engineering design and construction administration for the renovation of approximately 2,600 SF of office space, including private offices, open computer labs, a conference room, and a break room. M2 provided signed and sealed permit and construction documents, reviewed submittals, and responded to RFIs during construction.

The design included new split systems for supplemental cooling. The documents covered demolition and new work floor plans for MEP disciplines, along with calculations to ensure compliance with building and energy codes.

Lincoln Properties Company, Achieve Beyond 1st Floor Tenant Fit-Out, Silver Spring, MD

This project included MEP engineering design and construction administration for the renovation of approximately 2,300 SF of office space for Pediatric Therapy. It included new private consultation rooms, Lobby/Waiting area, IT room, Storage, break room, toilets, etc.

M2 provided signed & sealed permit and construction documents for the space along with reviewing submittals and RFI’s during the construction phase. Documents included demolition and new work floor plans for the MEP disciplines along with the required calculations to meet the building and energy codes.

Sharpe Square H&R Block, 1st Floor Shell Suite Fit-Out, Frederick, MD

MEP engineering design and construction administration services for the renovation of approximately 1,300 SF of shell space for H&R Block. It included open office space, storage and a unisex toilet. M2 provided signed & sealed permit and construction documents for the space along with reviewing submittals and RFI’s during the construction phase.

The design included new DX split systems and exhaust fans. Documents included demolition and new work floorplans for the MEP disciplines along with the required calculations to meet the building and energy codes

Net100, 1st Floor Tenant Fit-Out, Chantilly, VA

Project included MEP engineering Design and CA services for the renovation of approximately 2,600 SF of office space including new private offices, open office spaces, conference room, break room, training room and reception area. M2 provided signed & sealed permit and construction documents for the space along with reviewing submittals and RFI’s during the construction phase.

The design also included modification and coordination with the existing(4) rooftop Units. Documents included demolition and new work floor plans for the MEP disciplines along with the required calculations to meet the building and energy codes.

NIH University of Kentucky

Reviewed for the Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, IT, and AV systems in the University of Kentucky Health Kentucky Research Building project. The reviews covered the 15%, 35%, 60%, and 90% design submissions. Mahesh led the management of all disciplines and performed mechanical reviews.

The project involved fitting out the first floor for Vascular research as part of a larger building phase. This phase followed the design of the central core and utilities, which were planned for the full occupancy of the facility. Each design submission was reviewed for compliance with NIH’s DRM, International Building Codes, and industry standards. After each review, the team provided feedback and checked the Grantee’s responses to those comments.

NIH University of Oregon Zebrafish Center

Reviewed the Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, IT, and AV systems for the University of Oregon Zebrafish International Research Center project, covering the 15%, 35%, 60%, and 90% design submissions. Mahesh managed all disciplines and conducted mechanical reviews.

The project included a major addition to support laboratory work and improve operational facilities, along with minor renovations. The four main goals were:
1. Expand and modernize the Aquaculture room and zebrafish system
2. Improve equipment sanitation
3. Increase quarantine space for fish imports
4. Address operational bottlenecks

Design submissions were reviewed for compliance with NIH’s DRM, building codes, and industry standards. Feedback and checks were provided on the Grantee’s responses to comments.

NIH Texas Biomedical Research Institute SNPRC Expansion

Reviewed the MEP, Fire Protection, IT, and AV systems for the 2021 Grant portion of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute SNPRC Expansion project, covering the 35%, 60%, and 90% design submissions. Mahesh managed all disciplines and conducted mechanical reviews.

The project involves renovating three 10,000 SF buildings (107, 108, and 110), originally built in 1998, to house approximately 800 rhesus macaques. Each building’s renovation scope varies slightly.

Design submissions were reviewed for compliance with NIH’s DRM, building codes, and industry standards. The team provided feedback and checked the Grantee’s responses to comments.