REDSTONE ARSENAL -- Multiple organizations have joined a construction project to save the Army millions of dollars and take care of its most important asset -- people.

Building 4505 on Martin Road is under renovation to become the new headquarters for Army Contracting Command and Expeditionary Contracting Command, and the first permanent home for their 380 employees.

The renovation was estimated to cost nearly $35 million of military construction funds, but when the funds became unavailable, ACC worked with the Army Materiel Command and the Garrison to save the project. Together, they coordinated with the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management to save 50 percent of the costs, cutting the renovation to $17.7 million.

"The renovations in this building sends a powerful message of how we can take care of our people in time of a downturn," AMC Commander Gen. Dennis Via said. "It's all about improving quality of life and offering a first-class facility for our employees who work so hard. We want our employees to be proud of where they work and the work they do."

Via toured the facility Sept. 29 along with ACC Commander Maj. Gen. James Simpson and ACC Command Sgt. Maj. David Puig.

"When I first arrived (on Redstone), our employees were working out of trailers, and the plan was to stay there until 2016. That just wasn't acceptable," Via said. "Following the April 2011 tornadoes, we knew we had to get our employees into a safer, permanent facility. The trailers wouldn't do, especially with the important work our employees do for the Army."

ACC and ECC moved to an off-post facility while they worked with AMC and the Garrison to find the permanent solution.

"We found a way to take care of our people and create a first-class solution, going about it the right way and the smart way," Via said.

The newly renovated building, which first opened in May 1957, is 100,000 square feet and will include 17 video teleconference rooms, a basement storm shelter, fitness center, snack bar and crosswalk to AMC headquarters.

"When you walk inside, the amount of work that's been done is impressive. It's going to be a beautiful building," Simpson said.

ACC's mission is to deliver contracting solutions in order to support the Army and unified land operations anytime and anywhere. ACC is a major subordinate command of the Army Materiel Command.