(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia Office of Property Management successfully completed the Presidential inauguration viewing stands on-time and on-budget. Since the Johnson Administration, the District has been charged with constructing the Presidential viewing stand, press stand, and the District's viewing stand in front of the Wilson Building.

The project was a multi-year endeavor and required close coordination with the US Secret Service. Planning and design started in November, 2007, construction started in November 2008, with final painting and touch-ups being completed just days before the Inauguration.  The total cost of the Presidential and media stands will be reimbursed by the Federal government.

OPM also provided space across the city for various District agencies and the DC National Guard. OPM was responsible for the storage of vehicles towed from the parade route, for additional space for homeless shelters and for housing National Guard servicemembers, and their supplies, from various states.  

In addition, OPM's Protective Services Division of OPM provided security services at District facilities and escort services for District officials. PSD officers lined the streets of the parade route, alongside Metropolitan Police Department officers and with officers from other Federal agencies and from around the country.

"OPM played a small but important role in President Barack Obama's inauguration," said Robin-Eve Jasper, Director of OPM. "I am proud of OPM's contribution to the planning and smooth execution of this historic event in our Nation's Capital."

In furtherance of Mayor Adrian Fenty's commitment to green construction and other practices, the structural steel, metal fabrications and plastic galzing will be salvaged and stored for use in the next inauguration.  Framing lumber and concrete will be salvaged and re-used or recycled.

The viewing stands will be removed from the front of the White House and the historic John A. Wilson building over the next few weeks.