Sustainable Design a Key at Marine Corps Training Facility

QUANTICO, Va. (NNS) -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group Training Facilities, June 19.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington will oversee the $23 million project.

"We are here to build a facility that can be designed, constructed and turned-over that first-and-foremost meets the mission for the Marines who stand guard at our posts around the world," said Capt. Alex Stites, operations officer, NAVFAC Washington.

The new facilities will provide administrative, training and support services to the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group training mission and the Embassy Guard detachments worldwide. The facilities will have specialized features and structures found in typical U.S. embassies abroad to provide realistic hands-on training. Other construction will include consular-style compound access control buildings and storage space.

The MCESG training facilities will join a 140 room Bachelor's Enlisted Quarters and a 36,000 square foot classroom and training complex which are currently in use by the Embassy Security Group to accomplish their training mission.

The design will include low-impact development and sustainable design practices. It is a pilot project for a program called "total ownership costs."

"We're looking for a balance between the different systems in the facility and how they interact with each other to affect energy and sustainment cost," said Stites. "We're looking at how the mechanical systems may interact with the buildings envelope [windows, roof, walls, etc.], so we can reduce the future energy consumption and repair costs, and sustain that for the Marine Corps."

Facilities will comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Facilities will also comply with Anti-Terrorism regulations.

NAVFAC Washington awarded the contract to Argo Systems LLC, of Hanover, Md. and is scheduled for completion March 2015.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/ .