The Library of Congress was founded in 1800 to meet the research needs of the U.S. Congress. Operated out of three buildings located on Capitol Hill (Thomas Jefferson Building, John Adams Building, and James Madison Building), the Library retained Wells + Associates to analyze pedestrian traffic impacts related to a planned visitor center and exhibits on Capitol Hill.

To further promote the Library of Congress as a cultural institution, “Visitor Experience 2007” was planned to enhance exhibition space throughout the Jefferson Building. These enhancements were to coincide with the opening of the planned Capitol Visitor Center (CVC), with the CVC and Jefferson Building to be linked by tunnel. In addition, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) was evaluating acceptable and innovative ways to secure all Library of Congress buildings and its occupants from possible terrorist actions.

An example of our Government Facilities transportation practice, Wells + Associates was retained by the Library of Congress to assess the pedestrian traffic impacts associated with the CVC, new exhibits, and innovative security vestibules. Our firm collected field data and conducted pedestrian traffic counts at each building to determine current and future travel characteristics.

Wells + Associates was selected in large part due to our extensive experience with security assessments including the Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Federal Reserve Board.