KSA Honored By ENR Texas/Louisiana 2014 Best Projects Competition
New Camp Minden Reserve Center Wins Award of Merit
LONGVIEW, Texas, Jan. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- KSA was honored with an Award of Merit in ENR Texas and Louisiana magazine's 2014 Best Projects competition for the New Camp Minden Armed Forces Reserve Center. Architect John Selmer, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, was the lead architect on the project.
The Louisiana National Guard (LANG) Construction Facility Management Office (CFMO) selected KSA to design the new home of the 1083rd Transportation Company, 39th Military Police Company, and the 122nd Air Support Operations Squadron. KSA provided architectural and engineering design and oversaw construction for the 80,000 square foot facility. KSA used an environmentally sound approach, including diverting approximately 75% of all construction waste from local landfills. The facility received Silver LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The primarily one-story building comprises 64,136 square feet. However, a second story at the front of the building features an additional 14,145 square feet for education/training. The "Georgian" style, complete with classical Doric columns, offers a unique presence to the public. The first floor in the front of the facility contains all the administrative areas, the middle comprises the assembly hall, and the rear of the building provides storage areas. Other components included in the design are a learning center, break area, kitchen, restrooms with showers, military and personal vehicle parking, security fencing, and storage areas.
The 28-acre site provides the Louisiana National Guard with space to better equip modern soldiers. The building and associated grounds provide ample training areas, both on the interior and the exterior of the facility. The "H" plan is connected by a large Assembly Hall that functions as a dining hall or as a drill hall during inclement weather on drill weekends. A 12,000-square foot vehicle maintenance building supports the 1083rd Transportation Company. Sustainable strategies were critical to the success of this project, which featured durable, maintenance free building components obtained from regional sources.
The site was designed to maximize the open space after construction and incorporates existing natural waterways and channels into the design. Materials with a solar reflective index of at least 29 were used at grade and on the roof. Low flow plumbing fixtures reduce the burden on the Camp's water and wastewater systems by up to 30 percent. The landscaping features climate-tolerant plants that thrive on natural rainfall.
The mechanical and electrical systems were designed for maximum efficiency, resulting in lower monthly operating costs. The indoor environmental quality represents the largest impact achievable by proper planning and detailed specifications and improves the comfort level of the building occupants. An indoor air quality management plan was prepared that included low-emitting materials, contributing to the health of daily users of the building. KSA maximized daylighting strategies to both improve the quality of light and reduce electrical demand. The new building reduced construction waste, uses less energy to improve indoor air quality, and minimizes the environmental impact of the completed facility on the adjacent surroundings.
The LANG required that the building and site also incorporate Anti-Terrorism Force Protection. The building location exceeds the minimum standoff distances, enabling conventional construction. Parking lots make use of nine-inch barrier curbs, while additional protection zones provide barriers through large scale natural rock boulders. The building was also master planned to accommodate future expansion, while maintaining the stringent security requirements. Ultimately the LANG received a quality project in design, construction, and cost.
Communication between team members was facilitated via a web-based system. "To ensure the swift and accurate transfer of construction phase documents, the owner required a web-based method of communication," said John Selmer, project manager. "Each team member involved with the construction phase received personal login credentials. They then accessed the secure online system to exchange, review, and archive the construction submittals, RFIs, and other design and construction communications. Combined with highly efficient value engineering and a competitive bid market, we were able to deliver the project under budget, while achieving the aesthetic design the client desired."
By combining professional architects and engineers with skilled craftsmen, the LANG achieved its goal of a sustainable, safe facility designed and constructed to meet current and future needs. Firmly grounded in the present, the facility delivers Georgian elegance on a modern budget.
ABOUT KSA
KSA is an industry leader, providing a broad range of engineering, architecture, planning, surveying, and construction services for more than 35 years. Founded in 1978, the firm has grown to over 170 employees located in multiple offices in the south central U.S. For three consecutive years, KSA has been named to the ENR Top 500 list as one of the 500 largest design firms in America and was named a "2014 Best Companies to Work for in Texas."
For more information, contact:
Hunter Hilburn, Director of Marketing, 903-236-7700
140 E. Tyler Street, Suite 600
Longview, TX 75601
www.ksaeng.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150108/167842
SOURCE KSA
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