PAMPHLET: QUALITY OF LIFE AT CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 17, 2014
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 1, 1984
• Content Type: NOTES

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2 _
Rogistry
Note to: DDA
From:
Subject:
Harry:
Chairman, FAC
Pamphlet: Quality of Life at CIA
Attached as promised (threatened?) is the text of our
proposed pamphlet on quality of life at CIA, for your use in
trying once again to obtain the DDCI's approval for
publication. I am also providing a copy of the last version,
so he can see that we are replacing an old publication, not
creating a totally new one. The mock-up prepared by P&PD is
also here, as are some proofs of some of the pictures under
consideration for the booklet.
Please let me know how it goes. Our next FAC meeting is
Monday next, by the way.
Whatever the outcome, I'd like to get the mockup and the
pictures back. Thanks.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17 : CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Quality of Life at CIA
Few government agencies have the good fortune to be located
in a rural, woodland setting such as ours. The Northern
Virginia countryside is noted for its beauty, and the George
Washington Parkway is one of the area's most scenic drives.
1 For the Headquartets employee these surroundings are part of an
atmosphere that is unique to the Agency and unparalleled in
official Washington. The care and tastefulness that governed
the site selection and design of the building are obvious to
visitor and employee alike. The Parkway on one side and Dolley
Madison Highway on the other serve the two entrances, yet no
traffic can be seen or heard from the grounds. Carefully
trimmed grass and trees border roadways that curve easily
through the compound with a minimum of corners or signs. Shrub
and flower plantings, professionally designed and tended,
provide changing vistas year-round. Even a nature walk wends
its way quietly through one of the wooded areas for those who
prefer a closer touch with the untrimmed and untrammeled.
The Headquarters Building, designed by Harrison and
Abramowitz and completed in 1959, was carefully designed to fit
comfortably into these beamtodnatural surroundings. The
repeating lines of the recessed windows are broken only by the
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
perhaps more than at any other major federal building, the wealth of
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
cantilevered portico at the front and the low arches of the
cafeteria in back. The rectangular expanse of the upper floors
ri _
sits comfortably on the claviii-ne-aw form of the enlarged first
floor. Natural light enters offices not only along the facade
but through three major courtyards, providing a maximum of
exterior rooms.
Inside the building, the size and spaciousness of the
exterior setting is immediately obvious in the design of the
front hall, where the glass doors of the entrance face the
central courtyard windows. The corridors surrounding the
courtyard have been hung with a series of oil portraits of
former directors and a selection of Washington Color School art
generously loaned by Mr. Vincent Melzac, a noted collector.
These are placed to take best advantage of the natural light
from the inner windows.
In addition to the artwork in these corridors, the Exhibit
Corridor (1D) serves as a permanent display area for a rotating
series of shows and collections. These are loaned by
organizations such as the Smithsonian, as well as by individual
employees. The annual exhibits of employee art and employee
photography are shown here.
An interesting decor surrounds each of the first floor
elevator wells. Due largely to employee effort, early maps of
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Rome, London, St. Petersburg-Leningrad and Paris have been
enlarged and mounted on these walls. Also, each fevel of many
i n vit if 44 4 /el
stairwells is marked with mtrtftetir different language
la-uinal-s). For those interested, the languages, starting from
the first floor, are: Cambodian, Amharic, Arabic,
pseudo-French, Cyrillic, Mandarin and Thai.
Bulletin boards and showcases of announcements and awards
are placed in the hallway around the public service area of the
first floor. Additional displays of posters are carefully
i
limited to specific units n entries and elevator areas.
The Work Environment
As one moves from the public areas of the building into
work areas) the sense of unified design is maintained by the
introduction of brightly colored doors and accent panels
ps h
complimenting the off-white walls. t7=1ttail.tred-s.i.gne.,
utilizAg photographic film for easy updating, identify the
offices.
Those familiar with the Heacquarters Building are well
aware of the great variety of style and decor with which Agency
personnel surround themselves. They are also aware of the
difficulties involved in creating a pleasant environment in
what are often crowded conditions. While it is impossible to
neclassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17 : CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
address the specifics of each work area, there are certain tips
that can contribute much to improving the space we have.
To the extent possible, the clean lines and open space
which are the predominant features of the building's design
should be reflected in the arrangement of each office. Because
many rooms and work areas are small, it is particularly
important that they be free from clutter.
The first step toward designing the best work environment
is to make a critical inventory of the furniture, eliminating
all but the most necessary. Passagrways should be cleared,
bookcases cleaned out of outdated or unused material and file
and safetops cleared of unnecessary items.
A common office practice is to hang papers on walls and
partitions where they are available for ready reference.
Although this is often useful information, the result can look
chaotic. To the maximum extent possible, these papers should
be removed and consolidated into readily available notebooks.
This step by itself can contribute significantly to a sense of
added space and restful surroundin s
ILLEGIB
?N-Timited supply of wall hangings decorate most office
areas. Employees can provide a wealth of variety and interest
134y-supplementing these with their own reproductions or
originals. A tasteful collection of these, carefully hung, can
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17 : CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
add an element of depth and personality to
surroundings.
Unlike furniture or posted notices, an office rarely has
too many plants. They add warmth to large and small rooms
alike and are inexpensive to buy and maintain. Most house
plants will thrive under fluorescent lights and few, if any,
need a green thumb' to survive. They are a sure way to provide
color and depth. However, for the most part plants must be
supplied and cared for by employees, ,,azd.must hre
aurg*r-cised when4iatering them.
The building and grounds of CIA reflect the quality and
professionalism of its employees. Each office space can and
should reflect those same standards. The use of open space,
clean lines and tasteful, imaginative decoration can add new
dimensions to the atmosphere of cur work environment.
Headquarters Expansion
,
For the next -swpoe-r-a,1 years -0010-normally tranquil
cu d4 will be disturbed by a major construction project,
tramparg-rra result-will justify all the disruption. Smith,
Hinchman & Grylls has designed an annex to our building whichtl../7/
compliment and extend the lines of the original structure and
which will preserve the wooded environment. It will be built
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Quality of Life at CIA
Few government agencies have the good fortune to be located
in a rural, woodland setting such as ours. The Northern
Virginia countryside is noted for its beauty, and the George
Washington Parkway is one of the area's most scenic drives.
For the Headquarters employee these surroundings are part of an
atmosphere that is unique to the Agency and unparalleled in
official Washington. The care and tastefulness that governed
the site selection and design of the building are obvious to
visitor and employee alike. The Parkway on one side and Dolley
Madison Highway on the other serve the two entrances, yet no
traffic can be seen or heard from the grounds. Carefully
trimmed grass and trees border roadways that curve easily
through the compound with a minimum of corners or signs. Shrub
and flower plantings, professionally designed and tended,
provide changing vistas year-round. Even a nature walk wends
its way quietly through one of the wooded areas for those who
prefer a closer touch with the untrimmed and untrammeled.
The Headquarters Building, designed by Harrison and
Abramowitz and completed in 1959, was carefully designed to fit
comfortably into these beautiful natural surroundings. The
repeating lines of the recessed windows are broken only by the
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
cantilevered portico at the front and the low arches of the
cafeteria in back. The rectangular expanse of the upper floors
sits comfortably on the curvilinear form of the enlarged first
floor. Natural light enters otfices not only along the facade
but through three major courtyards, providing a maximum of
exterior rooms.
Inside the building, the size and spaciousness of the
exterior setting is immediately obvious in the design of the
front hall, where the glass doors of the entrance face the
central courtyard windows. The corridors surrounding the
courtyard have been hung with a series of oil portraits of
former directors and a selection of Washington Color School art
generously loaned by Mr. Vincent Melzac, a noted collector.
These are placed to take best advantage of the natural light
from the inner windows.
In addition to the artwork in these corridors, the Exhibit
Corridor (1D) serves as a permanent display area for a rotating
series of shows and collections. These are loaned by
organizations such as the Smithsonian, as well as by individual
employees. The annual exhibits of employee art and employee
photography are shown here.
An interesting decor surrounds each of the first floor
elevator wells. Due largely to employee effort, early maps of
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Rome, London, St. Petersburg-Leningrad and Paris have been
enlarged and mounted on these walls. Also, each level of many
stairwells is marked with muraLs or different language
numerals. For those interested, the languages, starting from
the first floor, are: Cambodian, Amharic, Arabic,
pseudo-French, Cyrillic, Mandarin and Thai.
Bulletin boards and showcases of announcements and awards
are placed in the hallway around the public service area of the
first floor. Additional displays of posters are carefully
limited to specific units in entries and elevator areas.
The Work Environment
As one moves from the public areas of the building into
work areas the sense of unified design is maintained by the
introduction of brightly colored doors and accent panels
complimenting the off-white walls. Neatly-lettered signs,
utilizing photographic film for easy updating, identify the
offices.
Those familiar with the Headquarters Building are well
aware of the great variety of style and decor with which Agency
personnel surround themselves. They are also aware of the
difficulties involved in creating a pleasant environment in
what are often crowded conditions. While it is impossible to
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
address the specifics of each work area, there are certain tips
that can contribute much to improving the space we have.
To the extent possible, the clean lines and open space
which are the predominant features of the building's design
should be reflected in the arrangement of each office. Because
many rooms and work areas are small, it is particularly
important that they be free from clutter.
The first step toward designing the best work environment
is to make a critical inventory of the furniture, eliminating
all but the most necessary. Passag ways should be cleared,
bookcases cleaned out of outdated or unused material and file
and safetops cleared of unnecessary items.
A common office practice is to hang papers on walls and
partitions where they are available for ready reference.
Although this is often useful information, the result can look
chaotic. To the maximum extent possible, these papers should
be removed and consolidated into readily available notebooks.
This step by itself can contribute significantly to a sense of
added space and restful surroundings.
A limited supply of wall hangings decorate most office
areas. Employees can provide a wealth of variety and interest
by supplementing these with their own reproductions or
originals. A tasteful collection of these, carefully hung, can
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
add an element of depth and personality to otherwise sterile
surroundings.
Unlike furniture or posted notices, an office rarely has
too many plants. They add warmth to large and small rooms
alike and are inexpensive to buy and maintain. Most house
plants will thrive under fluorescent lights and few, if any,
need a green thumb to survive. They are a sure way to provide
color and depth. However, for the most part plants must be
supplied and cared for by employees, and caution must be
exercised when watering them.
The building and grounds of CIA reflect the quality and
professionalism of its employees. Each office space can and
should reflect those same standards. The use of open space,
clean lines and tasteful, imaginative decoration can add new
dimensions to the atmosphere of our work environment.
Headguarters Expansion
For the next several years our normally tranquil
surroundings will be disturbed by a major construction project,
but the end result will justify all the disruption. Smith,
Hinchman & Grylls has designed an annex to our building which
compliments and extends the lines of the original structure and
which will preserve the wooded environment. It will be built
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17 : CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2
into the hillside west of the existing cafeteria and will
consist of two low towers connected by an atrium. The office
towers will be constructed with horizontally and vertically
divided green tinted glass curtain walls designed to be
compatible with the existing Headquarters facade. The atrium
will contain an employee services concourse; the main entrance
to the complex will still be in the original building.
The design of the courtyard space between the two buildings
preserves the existing large trees near the cafeteria, and
additional plantings, park benches, tables, and pathways will
make this a desirable space for employees' use. This courtyard
will also provide a pleasant view from the atrium of the new
building as well as from the existing cafeteria.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/17: CIA-RDP87-01130R000200220002-2