By Dino W. Buchanan
USACE, Honolulu District
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, and Absher Construction opened a new $35.3 million barracks with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 30. The new Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing on Montague Street (Schofield Barracks) will house Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) and the 2nd Brigade.
During the ceremony, Honolulu District Commander Lt. Col. Thomas D. Asbery told guests that construction of the barracks “continues the Corps’ strong partnership and commitment to building quality facilities for the Garrison and Soldiers returning from deployments – on time, of high quality and under budget.”
“Today with this ribbon-cutting for this barracks the Corps of Engineers continues our efforts to build the highest quality facilities for our Soldiers – on time and under budget,” Asbery said. “Because of our strong commitment to schedule and partnership, the Corps and Absher are providing this facility one month ahead of schedule. These highly-energy efficient barracks provide Soldiers with modern accommodations, while also helping to reduce the post’s energy consumption and costs.”
The design-build construction contract for the 228 personnel barracks was awarded to Absher Construction Company in June 2011 for $35.275 million to meet Department of the Army Whole Barracks Renewal standards. Design was done by Tetra Tech. This project was the second Absher has completed with the Corps of Engineers in Hawaii - the first was the New Barracks Complex on Lyman Road on Schofield Barracks.
Sustainability and protecting the environment were key components in the construction of this barracks with energy saving elements like: Solar water heating, high-efficiency appliances, plumbing systems that reduce water consumption by 40 percent, and the use of energy efficient Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) technology to construct this barracks, similar to that used in the construction of the New Barracks Complex on Lyman Road. The Adobe-building blocks keep the facility interior cool and greatly minimizes energy costs. The ICF can also withstand winds of up to 250 mph.
These environmental innovations and other sustainability components translate into real dollar savings for the Garrison and the Army well into the future.
Absher is in the process of trying to attain LEED Gold certification for this facility through the U.S. Green Building Council in lieu of the normal LEED Silver standard. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a voluntary, consensus-based, market¬-driven program that provides third-party verification of green buildings. Building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Gold certification is the second highest level (Platinum).
The new six-story UEPH will be home to Soldiers living in two-man suites that feature a shared kitchenette with a cook-top range & oven, microwave, a refrigerator and dining area, a shared bath, central air conditioning, cable TV, and internet service. Project amenities also include central laundry facilities on each floor, activity rooms and boot wash stations at each ground floor entry. Supporting facilities include utilities, paving, walks, curbs, gutters, parking, fencing, storm drainage system, information systems, site and road improvements.
Participating in the traditional maile lei untying and ribbon-cutting ceremony were Lt. Col. Asbery and Robert Eastwood, Director, Directorate of Public Works, USAG-HI. The Rev. Dr. Kaleo Patterson of the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center led the Hawaiian blessing and maile lei ribbon untying cutting ceremony.
The Honolulu District is committed to building and managing the construction of high quality projects that improve the quality of life for service members and their families and that provide jobs and money which stimulate the local economy.