Designing a state-of-the-art, high-security complex in a remote location with a harsh climate forced the project team to get creative when it came to procuring materials and labor.

The $115-million, 348,000-sq-ft Pantex Administrative Support Complex enables the National Nuclear Security Administration to relocate employees from its aging facilities into a modern, energy-efficient facility adjacent to the nearby Pantex Plant.

The construction schedule was tight. And because of the site’s remoteness, materials and labor were distant. These challenges informed the design team’s selection of materials and building systems that could be fabricated off site in controlled environments to eliminate concerns about weather and the site’s distant location.

The location also contributed to a challenge in terms of subcontractor availability. The contractor pursued subcontractors from five different states and developed a strategy to enhance the capabilities of several small local subcontractors.

The end result was a LEED-certified, three-story, precast and glass building that uses flexible floor plates and contains offices to support 1,100 federal and contractor employees.

The complex includes a 365-seat sloped-floor auditorium, a full-service cafeteria, a medical facility for outpatient treatments, a conference center and meeting spaces.

The project was completed on time and under budget.

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