Location
Mankato, MN
The Minnesota National Guard teamed up with Blue Earth County and the City of Mankato to conceive a new generation Armory facility, called the National Guard Training and Community Center. The concept calls for state-of-the-art facilities for personnel training, conferences, sporting events, and community events that benefit both the 135th Infantry & the greater Mankato area. The main building is 66,000 SF and includes military offices, classrooms, fitness center, assembly hall, commercial kitchen, weapons storage, and maintenance shop. The project also included a 30,000 SF pre-engineered steel structure for vehicle storage.
Special considerations were given to quality control and security including demand lighting system, backup power generation, crash barriers, and a very detailed commissioning process. The main building consists of a structural steel frame and a combination of decorative masonry and architectural panels for the shell components. The 9,200 SF Assembly Hall has structural precast walls with an exposed aggregate finish. The Roof structure consists of clear span steel joists with acoustical deck. The roof is primarily built-up with standing seam metal over the main entry. Main entry is highlighted with curtain wall aluminum framing and tinted glass. A commercial kitchen is located adjacent to assembly hall for serving large gatherings. Equipment includes steam kettles, griddles, gas stove, walk-in cooler and freezer, beverage dispensers, and dish wash/rinse equipment in scullery. Mechanical systems include a back-up generator system and software-driven graphic controls package that remotely controls equipment from Camp Ripley. The facility is designed to stand alone in the event of a military or community emergency.
This $6.6 million dollar project was completed about two months ahead of the contracted substantial completion date and sustained change orders totaling only 2% of the contract value. Most importantly, the project was free of reportable injuries with over 40,000 hours worked.