Ft. Meade, MD – More than 1,700 workers are already based in the new $1.1 million square foot facility. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Sen. Barbara Mikulski were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) formally opened its new headquarters at Fort Meade on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring military leaders and top members of Maryland state government.

The agency, relocating its workforce from Northern Virginia, is expected to fully occupy the new 1.1 million square-foot complex by the end of August. Already, more than 1,700 of an expected 4,300 are employed at the facility.

DISA is one of three agencies moving to Fort Meade as a result of federal base realignment and closure (BRAC) activities. The Defense Media Activities and the Defense Ajudication offices will also be moving in later this year.

The new DISA complex, located on 95 acres at Fort Meade, was built by Hensel Phelps Construction Company and features a 140,000 square-foot information technology lab, and received LEED Silver Certification from the US Green Building Council. DISA valued the building’s IT infrastructure at $120 million.

Members of Congress praised the BRAC move-in as a potential financial boon to Maryland.

“It does mean jobs–good jobs,” Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) said. “Not just the ones relocating here, but the contractors that will also be in this community. It will help us economically.”

Officials acknowledged, however, that the new workforce will strain area roadways and infrastructure, which have not received much-needed improvements due to a lack of funding.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) said she would push for federal money to help with road upgrades and other improvements around Fort Meade. Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersburger (D-MD) introduced a bill last month calling for a one-time appropriation for infrastructure improvements related to BRAC activities.

Lt. Gen. Carroll Pollett, the director of DISA, referenced the need for traffic upgrades in his formal remarks, going so far as to mention a chaplain who could not attend the ceremony due to traffic delays. But he said commuting challenges would not affect DISA’s ability to carry out its mission.

“I think we’ll always be challenged with the infrastructure,” Pollett said. “I think significant work is being done … I think it’s going to be an inconvenience, but I think if the congressional delegation is capable of doing it, they will continue to grow the infrastructure in the region, and we’ll benefit from it.”

DISA recently launched several subscription buses for workers coming from Northern Virginia, and is working with officials at Fort Meade to encourage alternatives to driving. The agency also has a robust telecommuting program.