First look: Wheaton Town Square and MNCPPC headquarters (Video+Photos)

The new Montgomery County government office building that will include the headquarters of the Montgomery County Planning Department and Planning Board is nearing delivery at Public Parking Lot 13 in the Wheaton Triangle. Also nearly finished is the new Town Square with stage and amphitheater directly across Reedie Drive. There are pedestrian walkways to the adjoining Metro station and to Georgia Avenue from the Town Square.

Panoramic view near the upper row "seats" at the new
Wheaton Town Square amphitheater (stage is at left
in the distance - look for the sail-shaped canopy)

You can also see the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission sign has been attached over the lobby entrance. Rules for the splash pad on the plaza outside are posted, but good luck stopping the kids from drinking the recirculated water! The Town Square stage features a sail-style canopy, very reminiscent of the one completed last year at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg.

Contractor Clark Construction reports that there have been no additional coronavirus cases among workers on the project over the last two weeks; 30 workers tested positive for Covid-19 previously at the site. Additional parking capacity is being restored to Lot 13 as work wraps up. Wi-Fi and security systems are being installed in the office building. 800 workstations and an 8th-floor Data Center have already been installed. Completion of the project is anticipated by June 30.

30 workers have tested positive for coronavirus at Wheaton Triangle construction site

Thirty cases of coronavirus among workers have complicated the final stages of construction of a Montgomery County government building at Lot 13 in the Wheaton Triangle, according to officials at the County Department of Transportation. Completion of the project has already slipped to next month from the original May 2020 projected date for "substantial completion."

The Town Square portion of the project is scheduled to be completed by next week, however. Completion of the square's performance stage and bioretention plantings are the final tasks.

MCDOT says that contractor Clark Construction now has two COVID-19 monitors on-site whose main task is to supervise that masks are worn and social distancing is practiced. There are now two entrances to the job site, where each employee is asked three COVID-19 questions when they arrive for work. And Clark has also hired a full-time cleaning staff to continuously disinfect surfaces and equipment.