SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Fort Benning is one step closer to a new hospital following today's award of a $333,359,000 contract by the Savannah District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The award was made to Turner Construction Company, Inc., of Huntsville, Ala., for the design and construction of a 745,000-square-foot hospital, almost twice the size of the current 393,000 square-foot facility.
A major project within Savannah District's multi-billion dollar military construction program, the Fort Benning Hospital is the district's largest contract award in fiscal year 2009.
"We have set a high standard for the construction of this hospital," said Col. Ed Kertis, commander of the Savannah District. "Our Soldiers and their families deserve nothing less."
"The goal is to provide our soldiers, our veterans, and their families with a modern medical facility that will offer the highest quality of patient care," said Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr in a statement. "The contract awarded today is a milestone in the process of achieving that goal."
With 70 in-patient beds, the new Benning Hospital will serve Soldiers, military retirees, and families of the Fort Benning community with a range of specialties. The design is split into two wings - a clinic and hospital section, equipped with two parking decks for patients and staff members.
Design and construction is likely to begin shortly after the Corps of Engineers issues a notice-to-proceed in October and will span 1,200 calendar days. An estimated completion date is set for summer 2013.
"It's been a long road to get this project awarded because it is funded with both military construction dollars and BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure] funding," Alan Bugg, the resident engineer for the project, said. "Also, we changed the location from a site beside the existing hospital to a new site about a half-mile away. The relocation will help alleviate parking issues and allow for a faster construction schedule."
The future of the existing hospital, now more than 50 years old, is yet to be determined.
Like all Army construction, the new Fort Benning Hospital will satisfy Silver rating criteria established by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council standards.
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