Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Quality of Life #4

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Quality of Life #4

Subsequent to Package #9, Straub-Martin-Harris, A Joint Venture (SMHJV) and PGAL were awarded Quality of Life (QOL) Package 4 for the design and construction of two 99,200 SF BEQs, 21,480 SF Dining Facility, 540 space Parking Structure with outdoor and indoor recreational areas. LEED Gold sustainability and energy efficiency are key elements of the campus design.

As a seasoned Joint Venture and design build team, we were able to further expand and enhance the campus design concept, blending the standard BEQ 2+O design with features that are inherent to college campuses and hospitality resorts throughout the country. Our team developed a cohesive design solution that delivers a BEQ that is contemporary, provides all of the Navy’s noted desirables and features intended to improve the quality of life for single Marines and reflect the professionalism of today’s American Military. The campus design makes a unique visual statement while blending well with existing base structures. Interiors complement the current Marine Corps initiative of supplying BEQ residents a home-type of environment with upgrades, warm colors and an apartment-like appearance as opposed to the institutional character of past Marine barracks.

BEQs – Each 99,200 square feet BEQ has 192 two-person rooms, community facilities and service core facilities. Two of the rooms are ADA accessible. All three BEQ projects (P-170, P-116 and P-163) are configured using a combination of modules which are flipped and rotated in various configurations to capitalize on solar efficiency and to provide an open layout where breezes can easily flow between the buildings. The BEQs modules are grouped together in different configurations, articulating vertical and horizontal planes to provide more of an apartment feeling than the standard BEQ design

Each BEQ has a separate multipurpose building and service core facilities. The welcoming centrally located multipurpose building is like a club for the enlisted personnel who live in the complex providing them with amenities which encourage interaction and a sense of community. The multipurpose building is designed as a social hub with an open and inviting “loft” space with controlled natural light and clerestory windows. Much like college dormitories, the multipurpose building provides entertainment options and the ability to do ones laundry at the same time. Entertainment areas include a theater area, 1st level interactive area, gaming area and 2nd level quite zone.

Dining Facility – The 21,840 SF dining facility is contemporary design to support 1,200+ patrons daily with a staff of 40+. Respecting the traditional materials of the BEAP, the exterior material palette is significantly enhanced with a combination of CMU materials; the clerestory roof is clad with standing seam metal roof, the profile of the section is also outlined in prefinished metal panel. A generous overhang extends beyond the faceted glazed wall at the perimeter of the hall protecting the dining hall from direct sunlight. The unique articulated roof line emulates the surrounding mountains providing indirect north light to flood the interior of the dining facility. Based on an open marketplace design, the flexible new facility is designed for easy and rapid adaptation as future trends in food service evolve. Design focuses on functionality, durability and longevity with an eye for practical maintenance costs and low environmental impacts. Materials and finishes were thoughtfully selected to promote the spacious ambience of the room, natural light, maintainability, and the unique campus dining aesthetic. The kitchen is designed to produce over 6,000 equivalent meal units per day and to operate as an emergency facility for the Base and the outlying community.

Parking Structure – Multi-level CMU and reinforced concrete vehicle parking structure provides 540 vehicular spaces and 20 motorcycle spaces. Photovoltaic systems (45,890 SF) are provided on the covered parking area producing an output of 500kW/ac.

Covered Parking Spaces – There are 500 plus covered parking spaces in which the canopies serve dual use as support structures for a photovoltaic system that generates 1,250kW/ac site wide.

Passive Recreation Areas – Gathering areas with seating, fire pits, canopied seating areas (with misting systems), outdoor cooking equipment are provided throughout passive areas. The landscape is integrated with drainage swales (acting visually as dry streams), basins, and slopes to facilitate retention and filtration of on-site water and minimize erosion. Public art elements will be integrated at key walk nodes.

Active Recreational Areas – The recreation areas are located in regions of the site to encourage group functions and are separated from the passive areas. Strategically arranged around the site are the active recreational courts, some grouped together to support potential team play. Active recreational sport courts include spectator covered seating areas with misting systems. The courts include: basketball, dodge ball/kickball, batting cages, and sand volleyball. An exercise circuit course combined with a jogging path circles the site. A Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course is spread over the length of 425 feet offering 15 different obstacles with covered stadium seating.

Safety: QOL Package 4 achieved a DART Rate of zero. Together, QOL Package 4 & Package 9 have exceeded a combined one million man work hours at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms without a serious injury. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Bedard, resident officer in charge of construction, noted that it is an unprecedented accomplishment of safety. More than 500 workers were on each site.

Complex site with multiple locations and adjacent residential buildings: Our Traffic Control Plan provided for off-site parking for our workforce which reached 500 at the peak. Haul route location and timing of deliveries was managed carefully as it ran through the main cantonment area with potential conflict with MCAGCC Twentynine Palms internal traffic as well as adjacent Operational Facilities.