The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has selected Mortenson Construction and HDR Architecture, both of Denver, for a $94.9-million design-build contract for the 13th Combat Aviation Brigade Barracks at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. Designed to maximize energy efficiency by preparing to adapt to net-zero-energy use, the new barracks will create a livable military residential community for nearly 1,000 soldiers.

Rendering courtesy of Mortenson-HD

A one-story glass pavilion links each pair of four-story barracks buildings. A loft-like glass lobby visually connects the landscaped entrance plaza in the front and the sports and activity courtyard in the back.

Comprised of a 370,156-gross-sq-ft complex, the new construction will provide three apartment buildings. A one-story glass pavilion links each pair of four-story buildings. The loft-like glass lobby offers a visual connection between the landscaped entrance plaza in the front and the sports and activity courtyard in the back.

The Mortenson-HDR design-build team is committed to achieve LEED-Gold certification. Sustainable design features include:

• A consolidated energy plant for the entire complex

• East-to-west building orientation

• Solar walls in the building façade to harvest solar energy

• Solar hot water panels to provide 30% of domestic hot water consumption

• Solar PV arrays to offset 24.8% of the annual energy consumption of a baseline building through onsite generation

• Energy-efficient radiant floor heat for all apartment units, sunshades for all window openings and a highly efficient MEP system

These sustainability practices will support Fort Carson as it moves toward a net-zero-energy, water and waste installation.

“We’re excited to help satisfy both the Corps’ short-term and long-term goals,” said Maja Rosenquist, vice president and general manager of Mortenson’s Denver office. “The energy-efficiency initiatives on this project will continue to provide long-term operating cost savings.”

To further reduce cost and schedule, Mortenson will install prefabricated bathrooms and kitchens in each unit for a speedy “plug and play” operation. Other features of the facility will include courtyard areas with basketball courts, picnic tables and grills for the soldiers to relax and unwind.

Construction is expected to begin in August and be complete in January 2015.

Other major design-build team partners include The RMH Group, SE Solutions, Nolte Vertical 5, Leo A Daly, Design Collaborative, Rimrock, Rader Network and HPE.