MAJOR DEFICIENCIES IN THE MAGAZINE BUILDING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05927A000100070011-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 7, 2000
• Sequence Number: 11
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release.2000/08/30 : CIA-RDP78-05927AGE00100070011-0
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT: Major Deficiencies in the Magazine Building
1. Since early January 1966, when certain OBGI components first
occupied office space in the Magazine Building, major deficiencies have
existed and have continued to be tolerated by the Agency. The purpose of
this memorandum is to highlight these continuing problem areas so that
after almost two years, pressure can be brought on the owners to correct
these faults.
2. The major grievances are as follows:
a) Heating and air conditioning system
(1) From the very first day of occupancy, the heating and
air conditioning system appears to be totally inadequate to properly
handle the approved standards required by the building contract. The fact
that cut-off valves on each heating and air conditioning unit were never
installed (subsequently every unit had to be modified) is indicative of the
fact that the building was never properly inspected before acceptance. Also,
many units had stuck or defective thermostats. The problem of extreme cold
in the morning and extreme heat in the afternoon (attributed to solar-heat
override problem) is still under study by the Office of Logistics. The
management is steadfast in refusing to do anything about this situation. It
is known by thiE Office that substantial numbers of contract employees were
dismissed last winter because of the extreme cold. These people were employed
on the second floor.
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b) The cleaning and maintenance problem
(1) The building foyer entrance has never been completed.
(2) The office work areas have not been properly cleaned
and maintained since occupancy. Rest facilities have been filthy a good
deal of the time. The rest rooms have not had all required supplies
(toilet paper, soap and paper towels) on many occasions.
(3) The previous char force contract was terminated on
1 July 1967. The old service was consistently poor because of obviously
poorly trained personnel. The new contractor (Total Building Service9)
has not proven to be any improvement over the old. The day man, until recently,
would spend a good deal of his time and on occasion all day waiting to be escorted
by a staff employee. Although he appears to be willing, he cannot perform all char
sertices himself. Further, the maintenance man for Total Services offers
excuses rather than corrective action on most of the problem areas.
(4) The plumbing in the building on certain floors, especially
the "credit union" area on the second floor is appalling. Exposed pipes
leak and waste baskets have to be used to collect the water. A typical apathetic
approach to a plumbing problem was taken by the maintenance man approximately
five months ago when my support officer reported a suspected pipe leak to the
individual. His warning was ignored and the very next day the pipe burst and
the entire conference area on the ninth floor was flooded. The water ultimately
leaked to all of the lower levels. The carpets were removed to be cleaned and
returned to us. Because of the owner's insistence that his insurance man
inspected the damaged rugs and his reluctance to pay for damage coupled with the
fact that GSA got involvedit was approximately three months later that the shrunkenec
rugs were installed.
Approved For R6Pdas t 61/Mq i-1 `8f v9L/AU OOO 6P practically
never swept.
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c) Attitude of Management
(1) The attitude of the owners of the building is impossible.
For example, although several ladies have fallen in the lobby, they
consistently have refused to lay non-skid rugs on the tile floor which is
extremely slippery on rainy days.
(2) A request for a telephone booth for the building has
been rebuffed for over eighteen months. There is no place where a staff
employee can have a "private" personal telephone conversation other than
use the two public booths in the noisy foyer area.
(3) The current parking fee is $20.00 per month ( it was
rased from $15.00 effective 1 October 1967) is paid by staff employees,
however, there is no visible evidence of cleaning or maintenance of the
parking area by the management. Pools of water collect from cracks in the
concrete. This is especially acute after heavy ~+ rains ese are not cleaned up p
the area is rarely swept# Leaks from the ceiling have not been corrected
(three insurance claims for damage to private cars were paid by employees
insurance companies and not by the owners)j ~nally in this matter there is
no assurance the parking fee won't be raised in the future.
(4) The inspection date on two cif, the three elevators
expired effective 30 June 1967. The third elevator has no certificate
whatsoever. All of the elevators at times have proved to be unreliable by
stopping at wrong floors or not stopping at designated floors. The mechanical
problems have been reported to the elevator contractors.
d) Support of other components
(1) My Administrative Staff has serviced the requests of other
personnel in the building for support. These range from helping fellow
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employees obtain parking spaces to getting permission for the blind
man (snack bar) to dispense hot coffee. Although my administrative staff is
overburdened with supporting five divisions in three different buildings it
nevertheless, has rendered and will continue to give advice and support to all
other offices assigned to the building. It is desirable to have a unified
effort to try and obtain adequate and proper services from the management.
e) Recommendations
(i) It is recommended that appropriate steps be taken by
senior officials in the Agency and GSA to bring pressure on the owners
to correct all existing deficiencies in the building or to stop rent
payment until all services are being performed satisfactorily in accordance
with the terms of the contract.
(2) I or any mbmber of my support staff stand ready
to aid in any way to help improve working conditions in the building.
(3) Other senior staff personnel in this building from
support offices will substarLate the grievances cited in this memorandum.
It is recommended that other occupants of the building be queried concerning
their work areas.
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TRANSMITTAL SLIP DATE ..-
TO: r
ROOM NO. BUILDING
REMARKS:
le 10 2
FROM:
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
EXTENSION
FORM NO.. A I REPLACES FORM 36-8 FEB WHICH MAY BE USED.
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