Mortenson Construction and STV have finished a design-build project for the Fort Stewart-GA based, Brigade and Battalion Headquarters in order to back the Infantry Combat Brigade Team.
This is the first time that one building has been conceptualized and built to accommodate six battalion commands and a brigade command structure.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers selected the two companies to commence the integrated design-build project. The building area is of 138,000 sq.ft and has three floors, which includes a brigade operations center, a secure compartmented information facility (SCIF) and a network operations center. The project cost amounted to $23.1 million.
A three-dimensional graphical model was created by the design-build team using Bentley building information modeling (BIM) software. The BIM method has a vast benefits including scheduling and cost-saving. Using BIM, it is possible for designers and contractors to rapidly collate data and distribute the same conveniently.
Initially Mortenson and STV studied the bridging records and suggested design alterations such as electrical and mechanical room relocation to reduce utility runs, stair tower elimination and certain other modifications that would help in command staff departments being functionally associated. Due to the alterations, the companies succeeded in building a 2500 sq.ft multi-use room over the main entry of the facility.
The companies organized a two-day charrette at the commencement of the project that enabled a meeting of the whole design-build team. Among the participants, were the technical representative and user groups, USACE contract representative, the design project manager and the contractor’s on-site and pre-construction project team. This charette enabled all parties to study the project scope, the methodology to be followed, building and design schedules as well as the hurdles that need to be overcome for the successful project completion.
Source: http://www.stvinc.com