When I reported to Root Hall at Carlisle Barracks in July 2020, I was drawn to the bronze plaques listing the U.S. Army War College graduates dating back over 100 years and found the names of my former commanders and numerous engineer generals. I was excited to see them again, quietly reminiscing with my memories and their words.

In between the recent grads were those whose legacy of service and sacrifice I recognized by the year they graduated. I imagined their dynamic conversations and the powerful learning that shaped generations of officers who shaped us – the new class. But our experience was destined to be different due to COVID-19 health-safety measures, and we never settled into the coveted seminar rooms in Root Hall. Instead, we adapted by necessity to create an atmosphere for those great debates, even when the classroom was online. Was this the future of learning?

Thankfully, the answer was no.

The future was right down the street, next to Collins Hall, where the site was being prepared for construction of a world class, state of the art, innovative educational facility. The anticipation for the new building was in the air, especially when visiting the “petting zoo” of futuristic furniture, collaborative spaces, and new technological systems for students and faculty to explore. We all stopped to admire the beautiful, scaled model through its glass case, oblivious to the enormous challenges and smart solutions being developed and implemented on site.

The building is supported by a foundation of drilled piers bearing into the underlying crystalline carbonate pinnacled limestone that is susceptible to sinkhole formation. Having extensive experience designing foundations in karst geology, Baltimore District’s geotechnical team executed a robust subsurface investigation, drilling 148 rock cores and additional caissons varying from 36 to 60 inches in diameter. This enabled the structural team to adjust column locations to avoid troublesome subsurface areas, ensuring construction on sound bedrock. Chuck Frey, geotechnical branch chief, deployed a joint team from Baltimore and Savannah Districts, operating five drill rigs six days a week, nine hours a day, at the peak of the investigation to maintain the aggressive design schedule.

Mary Foutz, chief of engineering, emphasized the importance of this remarkable capability and the flexibility it provides our project delivery teams.

“I’m incredibly proud of our in-house field exploration unit and our ability to surge to provide essential and timely information that enable critical design decisions,” Foutz said. “Performing such comprehensive investigations during design, significantly reduces the likelihood of discovering differing site conditions during construction that result in costly contract modifications.”

Engineering complexities can be challenging to project execution, but human relationships and team dynamics can be just as impactful. During the project, multiple efforts by different contractors were required to maintain pace. The turbulent industry and economic conditions presented several logistical issues that affected the critical path, however, the transparency and collaborative approach to managing change and risk was critical to finding efficiencies to maximize the schedule. It was not easy and quite stressful, but the relentless focus on safety and commitment to productive and continuous communication kept the momentum going.

The nearly finished building is a spectacular site to see both inside and out, and it means a lot to the team who worked on the project from the start. Col. Bob Halvorson, the USAWC’s project lead stated, “This project has easily been the most rewarding team experience in my 28 years of military service.” The trust and teamwork that developed over time was key to the successful partnering and collaboration.

Barry Treece, Baltimore District’s resident engineer, attributes their success to the teamwork and diligence of his team. Senior Project Engineer Cory Donahue, Project Manager Chuck Stodter, and Construction Representative Dave Potter, consistent engagement and in-person presence were essential to setting the tone for exceptional project delivery.

David Morrow, Baltimore District’s deputy for programs and project management, stated he is very proud of the teamwork demonstrated on this project.

“The entire team, to include external stakeholders, was flexible and adaptable solving numerous challenges that are inevitable on complex design and construction efforts.” said Morrow. “This flexibility allowed the new academic building to support the incoming war college class this summer, as planned from the inception of the project.”

The incoming class of 2024 will begin studies in the new Root Hall boasts over 201,000 square feet, 28 larger technologically advanced seminar rooms, a variety of collaboration spaces, a modern library, a cafeteria, and common areas. It also provides four large convertible lecture halls, a 600-person auditorium with sky-boxes-style seating, and spacious office space for faculty, staff, department chairs, and USAWC leadership.

The partnership with the USAWC benefited tremendously from the assignment of a permanent project lead, Col. Bob Halvorson, who integrated with the resident office on site. From the onset, the team built mutual trust through consistent communication and collaboration to overcome project challenges. Pursing different priorities while working in the same space required careful sequencing, merging or deconflicting schedules.

“After the split in the contract requiring joint occupancy, the USACE construction team stepped up and held it all together in one cohesive and understandable plan,” said Halvorson. “I could not have asked for a better crew than Cory, Dave, Chuck and Barry. This team works hard and finds solutions to problems that would normally take months to figure out.”

The vision to modernize this historic institution began with a collaborative planning effort that included key partners in the Carlisle Barracks Garrison.

“I am so proud to see a charrette and many years of tireless planning come to life in a big way at Carlisle!” said Brig. General Kimberly Peeples, who served as the garrison commander at the time. “It was inspiring to see the close relationship between the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Garrison, and the world class facility in the making as a result.”

From the project’s inception, the USACE partnership with the USAWC developed through productive three-tiered governance, chaired at the highest level by the USAWC Commandant, Maj. Gen. David Hill.

"As an engineer, I have always appreciated structures where the form fits their intended function and serves a greater purpose. Walking through the new Root Hall since our new resident class began this year, it is clear to me that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not just create a building but also greatly contributed to an enduring legacy in developing the next generation of strategic leaders. Considering that construction began at the height of COVID in the spring of 2020, I greatly appreciate the expertise of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer professionals that led a dynamic government and industry team to an on-time, in-budget completion of this important project.”

Aptim Federal Services, LLC (APTIM), a market leader in decommissioning and environmental solutions, announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Baltimore District has awarded the Company a contract to Decommission and Dismantle the SM-1A Reactor Facility located at Fort Greely, Alaska. In addition to managing the decommissioning and dismantlement of the decades-old reactor, the APTIM-led team will integrate and utilize mature, proven innovations to dispose of both hazardous and radioactive soil and debris from the remote Alaskan installation to the lower-48.

The contract was awarded to APTIM-Amentum Alaska Decommissioning, LLC (A3D), which is a joint venture led by APTIM and Amentum Technical Services, LLC. Other members of A3D’s team include Heritage – M2C1 Joint Venture, a HUBZone small business location in Delta Junction, AK; Lynden Logistics; Brice Environmental; Oak Ridge Technologies; ReNuke Services; AECOM Technical Services; and Delta Junction Medical.

The standalone C-contract has an estimated value of $95.5M, over a 6-year ordering period. The work to be performed under this contract includes planning, permitting, and engineering; site preparation; demolition and disposal of facilities, including components from the deactivated and defueled nuclear reactor, related wells and utility corridors, plus other ancillary facilities. The contract also includes remediation of contaminated soils, a final status survey, and site restoration.

David Lowe, Senior Vice President of APTIM’s Nuclear Decommissioning business unit, said, “APTIM and our heritage companies have a long history of supporting USACE and the Army Reactor Office (ARO) and have managed numerous Decontamination and Decommissioning projects across the federal complex. Our extensive experience performing reactor decommissioning projects for USACE and the ARO enables us to bring advanced innovations and solutions to complete the work safely and effectively at Fort Greely.” Mr. Lowe continued, “We will partner with USACE , regulators, and community stakeholders to eliminate the environmental liabilities of this legacy, aging nuclear facility.”

“We appreciate USACE’s confidence in APTIM and our partners to perform this critical work. We have a tremendous track record of successfully managing high hazard decommissioning work and look forward to bringing innovations and an experienced team to the last standing nuclear reactor constructed as part of the Army Nuclear Power Program (ANPP),” said Steve Moran, APTIM’s Army Reactor Program Manager and the Project Manager for the SM-1A project.

The SM-1A reactor achieved criticality in 1962 and was shut down in March of 1972, followed by the removal and disposition of the spent nuclear fuel in 1973. The primary mission of the single-loop, 20.2 megawatt-thermal pressurized water reactor was to establish a cold-weather nuclear power plant to support power to Fort Greely, with a secondary mission to study the economics of operating a nuclear electric power plant as compared to operating a conventional oil-fired system in a remote location.

An on-site kickoff meeting at Fort Greely will in late October 2023, paving the way for our preparatory work at the site. The team is targeting a full mobilization to the site by mid-2024. Project completion is currently anticipated by 2029. Project information can also be found on the USACE website www.nab.usace.army.mil/SM-1A/.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District safely rehomed 25-30k honeybees that were found during abatement and demolition services at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, Md., July 26, 2023.

The work at the BARC is in support of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) replacement currency production facility, and Baltimore District’s Program and Project Management Division (PPMD) located the honeybees while assisting with the disposition of excess real property at the site.

After discovering the bees, the team contacted the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Maryland Beekeepers Association for assistance, and Baltimore’s Bee Friendly Apiary was able to visit the site and remove the hives within a week.

Bill Castro, the owner and head beekeeper at Bee Friendly Apiary, vacuumed the bees into a bee box, broke off the wax combs, and salvaged approximately 40 pounds of honey before taking everything to the apiary in Baltimore. Once at the apiary, the honeycomb will be attached to the frames of a beekeeping box where the bees will be released and immediately recognize their hive

With the bees quickly removed, abatement and demolition was able to continue on schedule. Site preparation for the BEP replacement currency production facility at BARC will continue through 2023, and construction is scheduled to start in 2024.

“Every single person we interacted with at Baltimore District, the state agencies, and the contractor/subcontractor personnel all wanted to see the honeybees rehomed safely rather than destroyed,” said Sal Van Wert, Baltimore District project manager. “It was really fulfilling to witness.”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, are collaborating on the BEP replacement currency production facility at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). USACE signed an interagency agreement with the BEP in March 2019 to coordinate this replacement effort, including environmental assessments and design and construction oversight for the main facility and supporting structures, parking and stormwater management facilities, roadway access and improvements, utility connections, security systems, and access control.

The BEP is responsible for designing and printing U.S. currency notes at the request of the Federal Reserve Board. BEP currently operates currency production facilities in Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, Texas. BEP’s current Washington, D.C. facility is more than 100 years old and limits BEP’s ability to modernize its operations, so BEP, in coordination with USACE, is planning the construction and operation of a more efficient, modern facility at BARC to meet currency production needs.

Learn more about the project here: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/BEP/