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| Atkins to design renovation plans for US Military Academy barracks at West Point, New York  Atkins has been awarded two multimillion-dollar contracts to assist with modernising the MacArthur Short and Long Barracks at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York. The projects are part of the Cadet Barracks Upgrade Program, which aims to improve all existing barracks facilities at West Point. The new assignments fall under Atkins' ongoing architecture-engineering services contract with the US National Guard Bureau.The $53.8 million wall-to-wall renovation of West Point's historic Scott Barracks, built in the 1930s, involves complex upgrades to meet current codes and replace outdated building systems. Energy saving measures incorporated into the Scott Barracks renovation - designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the US Green Building Council - add up to an estimated 30 per cent reduction in annual energy costs. High-efficiency, low-flow fixtures used throughout the building will also reduce water use by over 40 per cent, which amounts to nearly a million gallons of water saved per year. MacArthur Barracks, another of nine existing historic cadet barracks at West Point, must also be modernised to meet current Army standards and to correct deficiencies such as overcrowding and deterioration. Originally constructed in 1961, the facility was named in honour of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur - a West Point graduate in 1903, former Superintendent of the US Military Academy (1919-22), General of the Army during World War II, and a recipient of the US Medal of Honor. Atkins' services for the MacArthur Barracks include preparing a complete design package to solicit a contractor for the construction. Atkins will also provide on-site construction management services during construction. To coordinate the projects within the larger Cadet Barracks Upgrade Program, Atkins is using 4D visual integration support (VIS) technology, a web-based collaboration platform developed by Atkins that helps to streamline decision making for complex program management and master planning efforts. Using Google Earth maps as a foundation layer, the application builds additional layers of information such as building locations, road networks, utilities, and construction schedules. By enabling close-up views of precise locations and all programmatic data and construction activity in one application, 4D VIS minimizes the risk of conflict and duplication of efforts, saving time and money. The modernisation of MacArthur Barracks will include building envelope rehabilitation, roof replacement, exterior stone façade repairs, and new antiterrorism/force protection compliant windows. The design will incorporate new heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing systems, while focusing on energy reduction and conservation. Additional improvements include cadet room renovations, new laundry facilities, new common areas, and site improvements. write your comments about the article :: © 2014 Construction News :: home page |