Nauset Construction begins addition to Hanscom National Guard building

Nauset Construction is beginning foundation work on phase two of the National Guard Bureaus new Joint Force Headquarters at Hanscom Air Force Base.

The four-story, 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art office building will connect to the existing 193,000 square foot facility and should be completed by May of 2013. The construction of the building and connections to the existing facility have been well coordinated by Nausets Building Information Modeling Management Team, which used 3D modeling to detect structural clashes.

Nauset generated a 3-D image and it was terrific. They put it up on a screen and the model revealed potential conflicts, said Bob Brandon, principal at Kleinfelder/SEA, the architect on the project. We had all the subcontractors, our engineers, and the National Guard at a recent Nauset presentation, and we were able to get everyone from design to construction on the same page.

The new facility will have its own air handling units and heating and cooling systems, but the water, fire protection, and electrical systems will be central to the two phases.

Were going to be coordinating our MEP tie-ins with phase one, explained Mike Rimmel, Sr. Project Manager for Nauset. Rimmel said that the use of BIM for the project would save considerable time as well as money and materials on rework.

Our BIM Management team identified several conflicts that were critical to solve during this early phase, because once you build it, it costs so much more to make field alterations, said Rimmel. Its two months into the process and were already looking at the end result. Thats important because this is an occupied and restricted facility and it saves everyone work.

Designed to resist the effects of earthquake motions, the facility will house classrooms with raised computer access flooring, heated storage and vehicle ready work bays. The foundation will consist of reinforced concrete footings and floor slab with steel framed masonry walls, aluminum windows, and a metal paneled roof system with integrated gutters.

The HVAC system will include three 2,000 MBH gas fired boilers, two 140 ton electric air-cooled chillers and air handlers with multiple zones. Additional building features will include auxiliary power, fire detection and suppression, security access and surveillance and intrusion detection systems. Extensive roadways, ground level parking, an amphitheater with tiered seating, pedestrian walkways and landscaping is also part of the projects scope of work.

The LEED Silver rating will be achieved by utilizing energy efficient MEP systems and controls, as well as bio-swales to reduce storm water runoff. Project challenges include close coordination with all subcontractors due to the highly sensitive, occupied and restricted site location.

Kleinfelder is an employee-owned science, architecture and engineering consulting firm providing solutions to meet the world's complex infrastructure and natural resource challenges. A global firm with nearly 2,000 employee-owners, Kleinfelder provides planning, engineering, scientific, technical and management solutions. For more information about the company go online to kleinfelder.com.

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Nauset Construction begins addition to Hanscom National Guard building