Army Reserve opens new headquarters

By Angela PotrykusDecember 22, 2011

New Army Reserve HQ
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 21, 2011) -- Having celebrated its official ribbon-cutting, the Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve has relocated to its new headquarters building at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Designed by Fentress Architects as part of the Hensel Phelps/Fentress Architects design-build team, the new Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve, or OCAR, facility was one of the final projects awarded under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The building was designed and constructed within a 51-week fast-track project schedule at a cost of under $20 million.

The three-story 88,350-square foot office building offers a contemporary approach to Fort Belvoir's historic design guidelines, and respects the design requirements of the National Capital Planning Commission and the height restrictions of the adjacent Friends Meeting House.

"Design For People" is part of a historic view corridor. The main façade of the new building presents a formal command appearance along Goethals Road. This ceremonial entrance is celebrated with glazed curtain wall and metal panel canopy. An intuitive and efficient secondary staff entry was designed and located along the south elevation.

The facility is on track to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification.

The architectural firm also designed Army Forces Command and the Army Reserve Command joint headquarters building in Fort Bragg, N.C. The Fort Bragg USARC and OCAR are both commanded by Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz.

Related Links:

Army.mil: Army Reserve News

Fort Belvoir, Va.

U.S. Green Building Council: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design