Award of Merit: Government/Public Buildings

The 120,000-sq-ft New York State Troop G campus located on 43 acres outside of Albany replaces an antiquated facility built in the middle of the last century. The $35-million project comprises a 90,000-sq-ft headquarters building and a 30,000 sq-ft quartermaster building.

The heart of the headquarters building is the communications security unit, which serves as a 24/7/365 operations center. Incorporating the ergonomic needs of operators and supervisors, the project's design included such features as sound-absorption materials in workspaces to shield operators from outside noise.

The quartermaster building includes a centralized vehicle maintenance facility as well as a distribution warehouse for troop gear.

To expedite the schedule, the state took what the project submitter describes as an "unprecedented step to move beyond" standard procedure and fast-track an early site-preparation contract, cutting months from the schedule. Recognizing the need for cost-effective design, the team developed an ad-hoc value engineering process that could quickly implement design changes. It also reached out to subcontractors to refine details and improve concepts.

Contractors delivered the 23-month project on time and $6 million under budget, with only one change order for an owner-requested improvement.

New York State Police Troop G Headquarters, Latham, N.Y.

Key Players

Owner New York State Office of General Services

Construction Manager BBL Construction Services LLC

General Contractor LeChase Construction Services

Lead Designer WCGS Architects

Site/Civil Engineer New York State Office of General Services

Structural Engineer Ryan-Biggs Associates

Mechanical/Electrical Engineer Quantum Engineering

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