'Phase One' of new Army C4ISR facility ahead of schedule

By Andricka Thomas, CECOM CorrespondentJuly 17, 2009

'Phase One' of new Army C4ISR facility ahead of schedule
The future home of major elements of Army C4ISR is under construction at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. The nearly $800 million project is part of the implementation of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law in which Fort Monmouth, N.J., will... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Just a little more than a year ago, Aberdeen Proving Ground marked the beginning of change on the installation at a groundbreaking ceremony for a nearly $800 million construction project as a major part of implementation of 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law.

Now, the multi-million dollar project is well under way and more than 54 percent complete, according to Michael Vetter, CECOM Life Cycle Management Command, director, Logistics and Engineering.

The project will house elements of Army Team Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) slated to relocate to APG.

The project represents the 'Phase One' portion of the entire Army Team C4ISR construction program. Eight of the nine 'Phase One' buildings are under construction, according to Vetter.

"At this point, most of the work left on the 'Phase One' campus is interior work," said Vetter. That includes the installation of utilities, information technology capabilities, walls, carpet, furniture and other essentials.

Construction is ahead of schedule with 'Phase One' buildings scheduled for occupancy August through November of 2010, ten months before the BRAC law implementation deadline of Sept. 15, 2011.

Completion dates depend on the contractor's progress and the time allotted to install furniture, phones and an access control system, and to obtain appropriate certifications for Secure Compartmentalized Information Facilities.

All of the significant buildings in the campus, Phases One and Two, should be ready by February 15, 2011, according to Vetter.

"Employees can look forward to working at state-of-the-art facilities," said Vetter. The buildings will accommodate many quality of life and advanced technical capabilities that have been considered in the engineering process, said Vetter.

The buildings will have fiber connections for optimal computer network connection speed.

In addition, 'Phase One' buildings will have two large break rooms on every floor, providing space for a microwave, refrigerator, sink, and an area for employees in each break room to eat lunch, said Vetter.

Four concession areas will be available in the completed Army Team C4ISR campus for employees to grab a bite to eat.

(This article appeared in Spectra, the magazine of the CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. To access the full issue in PDF format, 3.2 megabytes, click on the link appearing in the Aca,!A"Related LinksAca,!A? box at the start of the article.)