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∙Consolidation of program, administrative, and support operations into Smithsonian-owned facilities on properties controlled by the Institution or the federal government, and the minimum reliance on leased or rented locations.

∙Continued phased development of the Suitland properties for controlled warehousing, preservation, conservation, and study of the collections.

∙Acquisition of a building site convenient to the Mall and construction of a light, industrial-type facility for technical and administrative support of museum operations.

Smithsonian rentals at today's rates from all sources of funds now cost about $3,000,000 annually.  Primarily, these are for research, collections management, and support purposes.  About two-thirds of these costs are represented by activities in the Washington, D. C. area, and the balance by field activities, principally the Astrophysical Observatory.  Substantial consolidation of space holdings took place in 1972-75 in the Washington area to obtain more appropriate and efficient space, to simplify logistical support, and to avoid sizable rent increases.  Four leased buildings were vacated over this period with many operations being relocated to a single leased facility at North Capitol Street.  When the Museum Support Center building now under construction is completed, the Oceanographic Sorting Center will move from the Navy Yard Annex and annual rental savings close to $270,000,000 will occur.  These savings will be used in future years to offset equipment costs at the Museum Support Center.

This consolidation process should continue and other rental locations, including North Capitol Street, are factored into our long-range consolidation plans.  They are the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; the Radiation Biology Laboratory; the Astral Building in L'Enfant Plaza which contains the offices of several support and program functions such as internal audits, accounting, and performing arts; and the Cambridge headquarters of the Astrophysical Observatory.  The presence of the Support Center and Quadrangle facilities affords opportunities to examine space in other buildings, primarily the Natural History and Arts and Industries Buildings, as resources to meet a portion of needs now met in expensive rental space.

Institution facility requirements will be restudied at appropriate intervals and management is not presently committed to any planned building configuration or schedule for appropriations and construction.  However, over the long run the Suitland location seems ideal for fulfilling many of the Institution's consolidation and collection management objectives.  The building under construction at Suitland will permit the Institution to meet many collections storage needs primarily in the natural history area, establish training and other conservation program space, and vacate rented