U.S. Army Fort Carson Expansion
Base closures bring more troops, construction windfall to Colorado Springs
BRAC re-stationing of U.S. Army troops has launched a five-year construction boom for Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.
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| Rendering Courtesy Of Leo A. Daly |
When the U.S. Army announced its Base Realignment and Closure plans in 2005, it turned its eyes on Colorado Springs for re-stationing a number of soldiers.
“We are making a very large investment over a 10-year period in this region,” says Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. “When all is said and done, the re-stationing will bring about 11,000 new soldiers and 17,000 family members to the Mountain Post.”
However, back in 2005, Fort Carson and Colorado Springs were not ready to take on the additional troops and their families, all expected to arrive between 2006 and 2011, when the Army’s BRAC must be completed.
Community leaders began planning for base expansion, which included approximately $2.5 billion in construction ranging from new housing to bigger projects, like a command center for the 4th Infantry Division, relocating from Fort Hood, Texas, this year.
“It’s a massive job-producing enterprise we have out here for the local community. I would estimate somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 jobs (created) alone in our construction at Fort Carson,” Army Assistant Secretary Keith Eastin says about the jobs already generated by current construction and base improvements.
Fort Carson’s annual economic impact to Colorado Springs is $1.64 million, according to Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs).
However, some of the planned expansion may be delayed or shelved because of the Army’s June cancellation of plans to add a fifth combat brigade, the 47th Brigade currently stationed in Germany, to Fort Carson. The decision, part of budget-cutting directives from the White House, could erase an additional 4,600 anticipated jobs in construction and on the base over the next four years. It could also put in limbo $187 million of the Army’s construction plans for Fort Carson, which include a new dining hall, barracks and brigade headquarters.
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The Brigade and Battalion Headquarters was the first Fort Carson project awarded to use design-build. Greeley-based Hensel Phelps Construction Co., working with RNL of Denver, completed the 140,000-sq-ft building in 2008. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army)
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Since 2007, the Army has spent $198 million in contracts for buildings and infrastructure in preparation for the 47th Brigade’s move to Colorado Springs. The additional funding required for projects related to restationing the 47th Brigade is approximately $390 million, according to Rep. Lamborn’s office.
The brigade was scheduled to arrive in Fort Carson between 2011 and 2013, a move that would have increased the number of soldiers on the base to 29,600. The increase will now be closer to 25,000.
Because of the latest budget cuts, officials at Fort Carson will go to Congress later this year with a list of critical projects, says Fort Carson General Mark Graham. A timeline for Congressional action on military budget requests had not been set by mid-June.
“The negative impact of this announcement is that Fort Carson might not receive additional money for construction jobs down the road,” says Graham. “This is a tough decision that had to be made in tough financial times.”
Construction at Fort Carson
4th Infranty Division
Infrastructure & Support Buildings
$41.2 million
General Contractor: Bryan Construction Inc.
Architect: U.S. Corps of Engineers, CSNA Architects
Engineers: U.S. Corps of Engineers
Start: Oct. 2007 Finish: May 2009
New BCT-H Company Operations and Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility motorpools as well as the design and construction of 25 organizational and storage buildings that surround the motorpools.
47th Infantry Division
Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facilities
$63.8 million
General Contractor: Mortenson Construction
Architect: Leo A Daly
Engineers: PBS&J
Start: July 2009 Finish: Aug. 2010
Six buildings with four medium and two small TEMFs.
Band Training Facility
$6.2 million
General Contractor: Main/Mass
Architect: DLR Group
Engineers: ME Group, Nolte Associates, Design Collaborative, MGA
Start: Oct. 2008 Finish: Aug. 2009
This 12,500-sq-ft facilty will be submitted for LEED Silvercertification.
Child Development Center
$7.6 million
General Contractor: White Construction Group
Architect: HB&A
Engineers: Farnsworth, MGA, Quality Electric, Design Mechanical
Start: March 2009 Finish: Sept. 2010
Design-build of a new 24,000-sq-ft child development center.
Company Operations Facilities
$34.2 million
General Contractor: Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Architect: RNL
Engineers: The RMH Group, RAD Engineering, Martin/Martin Inc.
Start: Nov. 2008 Finish: Nov. 2009
Design-build of three new one-story company operations facilities designed to accommodate 1,800 personnel. Each facility is comprised of an admin module, readiness module and exterior hardstand area. The project is LEED-NC registered.
Company Operations Facilities
$70 million
General Contractor: Mortenson Construction
Architect: Leo A Daly
Engineers: PBS&J, U.S. Engineering, McGrath
Start: Sept. 2009 Finish: Nov. 2010
The six COF buildings are designed to accommodate numerous U.S. Army companies ranging in size from 100 to 250 soldiers.
Evans Hospital Alteration
$17 million
General Contractor: Bryan Construction Inc.
Architect: The Benham Cos.
Engineers: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Start: Jan. 2009 Finish: April 2012
Renovation and alteration of Evans Army Community Hospital and related work. The hospital includes approximately 513,700 gross sq ft of space. Services offered include primary outpatient care, ancillary, outpatient clinics and inpatient services.
UOF/EOD 71st Operations Group
$17.3 million
General Contractor: PCL Construction Services Inc.
Architect: C.H. Guernsey & Co.
Engineers: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Start: May 2008 Finish: May 2009
Military headquarters project consisting of a unit operations facility and battalion headquarters.
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