Black & Veatch Worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Provide LEED-Rated Facilities

Since the mid-1990s, the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, known as “The Big Red One,” has been stationed in Germany, away from its traditional home at Fort Riley, Kansas. Starting in 2006, the storied division has been redeploying in stages back to Fort Riley. Black & Veatch is helping to ensure that troops are returning to vastly improved facilities.

Fort Riley is now the home for more than 18,000 soldiers requiring new living and working spaces, designed to be “green.” The work was finished in an expedited time frame to facilitate Army transformation objectives.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Kansas City District awarded the facilities contract to M.A. Mortenson Company. As subcontractor, Black & Veatch designed the 16 facilities at the fort. Ten of those were part of the Custer Hill Beddown Facility and six were part of the Southside Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) relocation.

In just six months, Black & Veatch prepared almost 1,500 construction drawings for the new Custer Hill facility. Drawings were prepared for the full array of engineering systems for the new “green” buildings.

Black & Veatch also provided design documents for the CAB project. The project consisted of remodeling of, and additions to, five existing buildings. It also included the construction of a new helicopter maintenance hangar.

All sites and associated building designs were based on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for new construction. Projects achieving a LEED rating are recognized for reduction in water use, energy savings and the selection of environmentally friendly building products. The overall project qualifies for a LEED “Silver” rating.

In just six months, Black & Veatch prepared almost 1,500 construction drawings for the new Custer Hill facility.