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New Camp Pendleton BEQ Built to LEED Platinum Standards

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS111012-09
10/12/2011

By Mario T. Icari, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Public Affairs

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest and members of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton community celebrated the completion of a bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards, Sept. 23.

Capt. Michael Williamson, commanding officer of Officer in Charge of Construction Marine Corps Installations West (OICC MCIWEST), opened the ceremony for the multiple structure BEQ project. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony included Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Commanding Officer Col. Nicholas Marano, Williamson, Lance Cpl. Sandy A. Aguirre, I Marine Headquarters Group Commanding Officer Col. Steven Hanson, Harper Construction Co. Pres. Jeff Harper, and Harper Construction Co. founder Ron Harper.

NAVFAC Southwest awarded the $137.5 million contract to Harper Construction Co. as part of the Marine Corps' "Grow the Force" initiative to construct five reinforced concrete mason unit block multi-story BEQ.

"The establishment of these BEQ is an example of NAVFAC Southwest's commitment to the Marine Corps, its willingness to help meet goals of critical construction initiatives, and to accomplish a project on time and on budget," said Timothy Ide, NAVFAC Southwest construction project manager.

The project consists of 448,350 square feet and is able to support 1,788 Marines. The project's planning phase took advice from discussion with Marines and was built with their needs in mind and meets the fully embraced "Best of Breed" concept.

Each facility's integrated design approach offers a comprehensive focus on sustainable energy and water conservation. These high-performance facilities incorporate mechanical systems, recycling centers, natural ventilation, natural lighting, and solar photovoltaic panels. The photovoltaic systems will produce electricity that will offset 13 percent of the total annual energy cost for each facility. The buildings form a campus-like atmosphere and encompass energy efficient roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems to support the Marines. The facility was built within LEED Platinum rating perimeters and awaits attainment of formal rating after review from the U.S. Green Building Counsel.

LEED is a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is a nationally recognized performance oriented system designed for rating new and existing buildings, or groups of buildings, based on a variety of Green Building principles.

Each BEQ includes an activity center with reception area, multi-purpose room, pool tables, high definition televisions, wireless Internet, computer game rooms, laundry facilities, duty room and kitchen area.

The project implemented a safety culture survey and the "Safety Swap" program where each site bi-monthly rotated an approved site safety health officer within Harper Construction Co. to apply lessons learned. There was zero lost time accident cases filed with more than 690,000 hours worked filed through June 1, 2011.

This initiative is one of many throughout the Navy and Marine Corps which will enable the Department of the Navy to achieve the Secretary Ray Mabus' energy goals to improve our energy security and efficiency afloat and ashore, increase our energy independence, and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.