LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY(SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 20, 2009
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: December 18, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
2 JAN 9995
Although the interior design concept for the New
Headquarters Building is not completely developed, the
direction given to the Architect-Engineer is not to emulate
the existing Headquarters Building. Preliminary color
selections include rose colored terrazzo with green borders
for the large public areas, white ceramic tile walls with
green or buckskin ceramic tile floors for the toilet rooms,
green carpet for the main corridors, warm neutral carpet for
office space, and uniform neutral colored doors. The only
area proposed to be accented with bright color is the wave-
guide portion of the major circulation corridors. Final
color selections will be presented to the CIA Fine Arts
Committee for their review and comment.
Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
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Executive Director
NOTE FOR: DDA
Harry,
Before I show this to John or the
Director, gourd--you-ask somebody to pull.
togethie a one-pager-which describes how we
now control the aesthetic environment in-
Headquarters and the. outbuildings and what
we plan to do in the new building? Could you
please get back to me by,3-January? Thanks.
Pam
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4 GPO : 1983 0 - 381-529 (301)
OPTIONAL FORM 41 (Rev. 7-76)
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Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
 Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
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Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
 Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
To; Mr. William J Casey
Director of Central Intellegence
THE CENTRAL INTELLEGENCE AGENCY AND SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL
CONSIDERATIONS OF ITS WORK ENVIRONMENT
The object of this paper is to promote a better quality
work environment for the CIA through proper interior decoration
and design.
That color, lighting, textures and materials of an
environment have a strong impact upon the mood, feelings, and
productivity of those who occupy it is proven by the success of
the Marriott corporation*. Marriott has a staff of highly
qualified designers who understand what makes people
comfortable. This effort extends into proper selection of
materials, textures, and colors for floors, walls, ceilings,
cabinetry, furnishings, artwork, and lighting to create the
desired mood,
Environments of the CIA, however, can be categorized as
follows;
1. Headquarters; A universal white background punctured by
sharp spots of color, the effect of which, while providing some
unification, is an environment that is harsh and disquiet.
2. Other local CIA leased buildings; Those that do not employ
the headquarters system are not cohesive in philosophy and
contain uncoordinated and unnatural elements which become
particularly painful because of the widespread use of
windowless spaces and cubicled offices.
3. Overseas installations; These are generally developed by the
unskilled occupants who have had no training. This results in
depressive and inhumane environments in which dedicated people
perform difficult tasks.
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 Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
/
To expand upon personal opinions of the existing
Headquarters concept, which will probably be proliferated into
the new addition, the concept has roots in the artwork of Piet
Mondrian. The Mondrian-Architecture rationalization is
unaccompanied by thoughtful composition or proportion which is
the strength of the art. The result of this partial application
of principal results in perhaps a surprising experience for
those who see the spaces for the first time, but a harsh and
mind jangling environment for those working in it and thus
captive to it. It would seem that those working in a space
should be considered more important than those transiting it.
Even the artwork of headquarters, being of Cubistic bent, tends
to focus the eye on the plane of the picture rather than into
it to provide some visual relief for windowless spaces.
The selection of environmental colors can be very powerful,
making the inhabitant feel cold or warm. Certain colors can
make a wall advance or recede, or a room look larger or
smaller. Proper development of a room can help the occupant
relate in scale. The simple improper selection of a light bulb
(a task usually left to a custodian) can make people appear
unnatural. The selection of interior furnishings appears to be
uncontrolled.
It is recommended that the CIA hire an unbiased, qualified,
practicing interior designer to assess our environments and to
propose modern, cohesive philosophies and proceedures for
development of the work place to provide a more constructive
and productive atmosphere. If it would not be possible for the
consultant to work in our unaccessible facilities, perhaps
guidelines could be developed for implementetion by trained
staffers.
Thank you for the opportunity to express these thoughts.
18 Dec., 1984
Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
 Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3
MEMORANDUM POR ALL EMPLOYEES
SUBJECT: Creative Problem Solving
28 November 1984
1. The intelligence problems the Agency faces continue to grow in
number and complexity. Responding to these varied challenges puts a
preLium on our ability to develop a continuing stream of innovative
solutions. We can use all the good ideas we can get, and it is crucial
that we be prepared to act quickly on the most promising. This means
that we do not subject occasional flashes of inspiration to bureaucratic
red tape and endless levels of review before they reach the appropriate
decisionmaker. I have, therefore, established a top-level forum in the
Agency for reviewing and reacting to new ideas concerning ways to
accomplish our mission better. It consists of the Deputy Director of
Central Intelligence, the Executive Director, and myself. I invite each
of you with ideas for new or better ways to respond to critical
intelligence problems -- including improvements in the collection,
production, or dissemination of intelligence or to the way we are
organized to do our job -- to send them directly to one of the three of
us. We will decide in short order on the merit and feasibility of such
proposals and, if appropriate, arrange to implement them rapidly.
2. CIA already participates in two other programs designed to take
maximun advantage of employee expertise and imagination. The Agency's
cash awards program, administered by the Office of Personnel, recognizes
suggestions and special accomplishments that result in savings to the
Goverment. The Community-wide Production Enhancement Initiatives
program, managed by the Intelligence Producers Council, explores
potentially useful, but longer-term, initiative to improve the
intelligence production process. I hope that by supplementing these
for=al programs with the informal one described above, we will be able to
initiate some innovative short-term projects providing immediate
intelligence payoff.
3. I urge you to share your ideas with us on how the Agency may do
its job better. You are, after all, the ones who meet the challenges of
Agency -business head on every day and are, therefore, the best source of
new concepts for solving pressing intelligence problems.
Willi J. Casey"
Director of Central Intelligence
Approved For Release 2009/03/20: CIA-RDP89-00244R000701410010-3