Project completion of BRAC 132, Office of the Chief Army Reserve Building, Ft. Belvoir, Va.

Hensel Phelps Construction Co. (Hensel Phelps) recently completed the BRAC 132 -Office of the Chief Army Reserve (OCAR) Building at Fort Belvoir, Va.

As a result of the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s (BRAC) Recommendations, OCAR operations moved from Arlington, Va. to their new facility at Fort Belvoir, Va.

The Chief, Army Reserve (CAR) is responsible for plans, policies and programs affecting all Army Reserve Soldiers, including those who report directly to the Army. OCAR is comprised of specialized groups that advise and support the CAR on a wide variety of issues.

Despite the aggressive twelve (12) month schedule the Hensel Phelps team achieved the Certificate of Occupancy on budget and ahead of schedule. As a result of Hensel Phelps exemplary safety culture the project was completed with over 95,000 manhours with zero lost time incidences, earning two (2) safety accolades from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer.

This fast-tracked, design-build project consists of a three-story, 88,470 sf administrative command building housing approximately 430 employees. The OCAR facility was designed to adhere to the Fort Belvoir Master Campus Plan and features precast panels with a light sandblasted limestone-like finish and embedded brick veneer.

Hensel Phelps, as the design-builder, was teamed with Fentress Architects as the Architect of Record, as well as Draper Aden Associates for civil engineering. The project scope included administrative space, an emergency operations center, sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), secure and non-secure conference rooms, video teleconference centers, data processing center, General Officer/senior executive service office suites, storage, and administrative support areas, site work, core and shell, and interior tenant planning.

The OCAR Project is registered as a LEED-NC v2.2 Silver Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. BD+C

This course defines the elements of hospital campus access that are essential to promoting the efficient, stress-free movement of patients, staff, family, and visitors. Campus access elements include signage and wayfinding, parking facilities, transportation demand management, shuttle buses, curb access, valet parking management, roadways, and pedestrian walkways.

For glass openings, how big is too big?

Advances in glazing materials and glass building systems offer a seemingly unlimited horizon for not only glass performance, but also for the size and extent of these light, transparent forms. Both for enclosures and for indoor environments, novel products and assemblies allow for more glass and less opaque structure—often in places that previously limited their use.

The Forge in London is deploying industrialized, kit-of-parts construction. Images: Courtesy of Bryden Wood

Architects | May 3, 2022

A U.K.-based design firm flaunts industrialized construction as it expands into U.S.

Bryden Wood wants to set up a network for manufactured components for repeatable building types.

Codes and Standards | May 3, 2022

American Institute of Steel Construction updates environmental product declarations

The American Institute of Steel Construction has released updated environmental product declarations (EPDs) “to help designers and building owners design more environmentally friendly buildings and bridges,” according to an AISC news release.

Education Facilities | May 2, 2022

Texas School for the Deaf campus gateway enhances sense of belonging for deaf community

The recently completed Texas School for the Deaf Administration and Welcome Center and Early Learning Center, at the state’s oldest continuously operating public school, was designed to foster a sense of belonging for the deaf community.

Codes and Standards | May 2, 2022

Developer Hines, engineer MKA develop free embodied carbon reduction guide

Real estate management and investment firm Hines has released the Hines Embodied Carbon Reduction Guide. The free guide, produced with Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), is the result of a two-year effort, relying on MKA’s industry-leading knowledge of carbon accounting and involvement in programs such as the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) Tool.

Building Team | May 2, 2022

HED and VAI announce merger to bring strategic expertise and drive community impact in Dallas

HED (Harley Ellis Devereaux), a leading national architecture and engineering firm, today announced a merger with award-winning, Dallas-based VAI Architects Incorporated (VAI).