(Rockville, MD - April 19, 2006) Much more than a groundbreaking took place today at the corner of Research Boulevard and Gude Drive in the city of Rockville, MD.
The ceremony, which kicked off construction of the new headquarters of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), also marked a welcomed new chapter in the story of an organization that has been a good neighbor in Montgomery County for decades according to local officials.
Come Fall 2007, ASHA, which employs 225 people and has been recognized repeatedly as a "Great Place to Work," will relocate eight miles north from its current address at Rockville Pike and Strathmore Avenue.
In keeping with its long tradition of social responsibility, ASHA will move into an environmentally friendly five-story headquarters building of nearly 150,000 square feet.
The impetus for these plans is ASHA's growth. Its current headquarters building is no longer adequate. ASHA leaders say that relocating in the new one will culminate in a great investment for the organization's more than 123,000 members.
"Today's ceremony is an important step for our Association because it helps our members," ASHA President Alex Johnson observes. "It will provide us with the cost efficiencies and space to better serve them for a long, long time."
Noting that ASHA is pleased to be remaining in Montgomery County, ASHA Executive Director Arlene A. Pietranton says that the "neighborliness" for which the organization is known locally is about to take a new additional form.
"The entire fifth floor of our new headquarters will be available for lease," Pietranton explains, "plus the site can accommodate a second building if one is desired at a later time."
ASHA's new headquarters building has been designed by Boggs and Partners Architects and will be built by James G. Davis Construction Corporation. The total cost involved (including the new building and property, and the complete outfitting and furnishing of the new headquarters) is $48 million.
National and Maryland officials who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony included Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 8th Congressional District; Scott Riley, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Montgomery County; and Susan R. Hoffmann, Councilmember, City of Rockville.
They praised ASHA, which has operated in Montgomery County since 1966, for its many local contributions: the involvement of its staff with the volunteer mentoring program at Garrett Park Elementary; their regular, voluntary clean-up of Strathmore Avenue; the organization's responsiveness and involvement with charitable organizations; its model telecommuting program for employees; and, its national and local designations as an outstanding workplace.
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 123,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and dizziness disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
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