WINCHESTER, Va. - A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project received honors in an engineering competition sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts.
The project, the theater vehicle maintenance facility complex at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, was submitted for competition by Tetra Tech, the architect-engineer firm that designed the facility on behalf of the Middle East District. The Afghanistan Engineer District-South carried out the construction.
ACEC's awards program recognizes engineering firms for projects that demonstrate a high degree of achievement, value and ingenuity. The theater vehicle maintenance facility was among 13 projects that received Silver Awards during ceremonies in March. ACEC presented five Gold Awards and a Grand Conceptor Award, recognizing the highest engineering achievement.
The theater vehicle maintenance facility complex consisted of three buildings and associated utilities for a 10,000-square meter complex with standalone systems for power generation, water supply, sewage collection and fire suppression.
The project was recognized for fulfilling a critical need in Afghanistan. The Defense Department had fielded a series of mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs) to provide safer transportation because of the threat of improvised explosive devices. Because there were no maintenance facilities in Afghanistan, the vehicles were stockpiled at Kandahar Airfield for transport to Kuwait for maintenance.
"The theater vehicle maintenance facility complex provides a cost-effective means for getting disabled MRAPs back into service locally, rather than sending them to Kuwait for servicing," said Deborah Duncan, deputy for Programs and Project Management, Middle East District. "Having MRAPs in service quickly is critical for safeguarding our soldiers and civilians who are supporting U.S. missions in Afghanistan."
Joseph Zaraszczak, chief, Afghanistan and Iraq Support Branch, said that the complex was partially complete and turned over in March 2012, with the entire complex completed and ready for use by November 2012.
The Middle East District provides engineering, construction and related services in the Middle East, Central Asia and other areas. Its work includes designing and constructing facilities for use by U.S. forces, performing engineering activities for other U.S. government and foreign agencies, and providing operations and maintenance services for various customers.
In addition, the District provides project management, engineering, contracting and support services to USACE districts in Afghanistan.
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