Photo By Master Sgt. Paul Santikko | Built in 1961, the Cedar Street armory located in the Capitol Government Complex in...... read more read more
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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Built in 1961, the Cedar Street armory located in the Capitol Government Complex in downtown St. Paul, Minn., has been undergoing updates for the last several months. All of the full time staff, except for the Joint Operations Control Center, had been vacated last July to accommodate the construction process.
The decision to move forward with the remodeling project goes along with Maj. Gen. Rick Nash's, one of Minnesota's adjutants general, priorities - building sustainable infrastructure. While the armory was already operating at 60-percent above the Minnesota energy code, the updates will not only increase its efficiencies by an additional 20 percent, but also provide a better overall work and training environment for its users.
Starting last August, hazardous material handlers abated all of the building’s asbestos and lead that was used in the original construction process.
Demolition teams removed all the non-structural walls and non-compliant utilities to make way for the new layout and efficiency upgrades. The remodeling process will include 2-inches of R15 rigid foam insulation that will be vapor sealed with spray foam, and insulated multi-pane window assemblies. This is a far sight better as the original building had no insulation, and drafty single pane windows.
Heat will continue to come from the St. Paul district energy plant. However, some 55 plus window air conditioners will be replaced with a central air and chilled water system that is supplied from the same district energy plant. To reduce energy consumption more effectively, lighting and temperature will be zone controlled.
State-bonded and federally-appropriated facility sustainment funding was used to finance the $10.4-million project, which included: design, hazardous material removal, and construction.
Aside from not seeing the window air conditioner units, there will be no changes to the exterior facade as the building has been dubbed a historical piece of the government complex.
The interior on the other hand will be noticeably different. One-third of the existing drill floor has been converted to a three-story addition that incorporates training rooms, office space, and conference rooms.
Project manager and civil engineer Lt. Col. Randy Erickson explains that the project was contracted for 365 calendar days and, as of Feb. 21, they are at 196 days and right on track.
When completed, the Cedar Street armory will include: 32 private offices, 182 work stations, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a medical exam room, an additional vault, and new class room training areas.
The building itself will be fully handicap accessible and will now include an elevator at the front entrance as well. Some new safety features include a fire sprinkler system, fire-retardant building materials and a filtered air exchanger. High efficiency/high visibility lighting will replace the old lighting fixtures.
Also being installed are upgraded network connections and compliant electrical wiring. General contractor Donlar Construction, along with a team of twenty other types of skilled tradesmen from electricians to painters have been working together to complete the remodel.
”When complete, Cedar Street armory will be safer, more efficient, and an overall better experience for the service members who work and train there,” said Donlar construction superintendent Tom Spoden.
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2013 14:34 |
| Story ID: | 103007 |
| Location: | ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, US |
| Hometown: | ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 187 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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