The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are seeking approximately 200,000 sf, housed together in preferably a historic building. This arrangement, pending congressional approval, is leading the NEA and NEH to consider space in the Woodward & Lothrop project, a 550,000-sf former department store. The "Woodies" building, built in phases from 1902 to 1926, could be ready for move-in a year following the signing of a pre-lease. The institutions employ over 150 people and are currently housed in 145,000 sf in the 103-year-old Old Post Office, which the General Services Administration (GSA) plans to empty by the end of 2003 pending redevelopment of the site. A formal GSA search process is required for most government agency relocations.
