Photo By Steve Grzezdzinski | Workers prepare a site for the new radome shelter on Tobyhanna Army Depot’s Powder...... read more read more
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TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. — “There is a law that has a constant and dramatic effect in our life, and that law is the law of change. The law of change states that everything is in the process of becoming something else.” — John Kehoe, author
There is an enterprising bunch of individuals working at Tobyhanna Army Depot who are never at a loss for ideas on how to transform the installation’s infrastructure.
While attending an area development plan (ADP) workshop the group was asked to reimagine the depot’s footprint to meet the needs of the Army up to 20 years into the future. They spent several days discussing points of interest and modifying the existing industrial district within the strict parameters of the exercise.
Participants were asked to look at developmental alternatives – to stretch their imaginations then come up with a unified vision. An ADP is a tool used at various points in the master planning process. The documents display site planning for a specific area of the installation by including details or sketches that illustrate important features of the plan. It also indicates construction phasing and development priorities.
Planning team members meet regularly to discuss ongoing projects and plan future projects from a mission and facility sustainment or infrastructure perspective, according to Ray Watkins, mechanical engineer and Tobyhanna’s master planner.
“This concept only increases effectiveness and improves the depot’s planning efforts, it also ensures facility mission requirements are identified early and the infrastructure required to operate the mission is incorporated into the plan,” Watkins said.
Pedestrian safety ranked high among the workshop discussions along with security, use of space, climate and weather, traffic flow, and utilities. Talks included increased parking outside the fence to improve pedestrian access to the farther reaches of the depot thus reducing the need for privately-owned vehicles in the restricted area. Fewer parking spaces would make it possible to create green spaces similar to what is seen on college campuses. Another topic for debate was the possibility of a second access ramp to Interstate 380 in an effort to reduce traffic congestion at the beginning and end of the duty day.
Workshop participants also took time to determine the pros and cons of co-locating congruent and complementary mission types. Discussions revolved around changes to traffic patterns to streamline distribution and receiving processes.
The ideas discussed during the ADP workshop are goals to help Tobyhanna reach its future potential. In the meantime evidence of the team’s prowess can be seen in every building and on every road at the depot.
Not long ago an aging warehouse was turned into contemporary office space for 500 people, while workers modernized thousands of square feet in the largest building on the depot.
“The Building 1A project is going well. Fortunately we’ve been able to blend or overlap work being accomplished in the different phases,” said Patrick Monahan, Installation Services Directorate’s Engineering Branch chief. “About this time next year, we should be moving people into their new work environment.”
Contractors working in the Post Restaurant found a few surprises that required minor changes, and the issues that postponed the start date for the first and third floor renovations in the headquarters building are resolved.
According to Monahan, surprises are to be expected in many of Tobyhanna’s longstanding facilities. For instance, construction practices when the sewer lines or foundations were installed are nowhere near what they are today.
Plans are also in motion to temporarily shift the Post Office to Building 2 and move all of the third floor occupants. Armed with a new strategy and contractors, the headquarters building project will take about a year to complete.
Employees entering the industrial area near Building 20 have probably noticed the installation of a new gate is almost complete. Another welcome sight is workers performing asphalt repair on roads and parking lots thanks to contracts defining repair, line striping, paving and milling work over the next few years.
On Powder Smoke Ridge a new radome equipment shelter is being constructed to house the Marine Corps AN/TPS-59 radar during testing. The scheduled completion date is early next year. Site preparation includes raising the elevation and laying the foundation before tying electrical and mechanical systems into the fiberglass equipment shelter.
“The contractor is staying on top of the schedule and is effectively communicating with the contracting officer’s representative on the progress as well as any potential issues,” said Chris Sheerer, civil engineer in charge of the project. Sheerer explained the radome is expected to house the Marine Corps workload until 2025 with the potential to shelter additional workload until 2035.
There are new bathrooms and shower rooms on tap for the Mack Fitness and Recreation Center, which are scheduled for completion in the spring.
In the industrial area, designs are being drawn up for a new 6,000-square-foot Automated Test Equipment (ATE) Center on the ground level of Building 1A. The modern, environmentally controlled and flexible facility is outside the footprint of the ongoing modernization that started in 2015. The multi-million dollar ATE project is scheduled for completion near the end of next year.
“Employee benefits include renovated restrooms, an elevator, and new flooring, lighting and furniture,” said George Rittenhouse, engineering technician in the Installation and Planning Division. “As part of our long-term strategic planning, this move will set the stage for Tobyhanna to start clearing out Building 1C, Bay 1 for modernization.”
Tobyhanna recently signed a 23-year energy savings performance contract that will enable the Army to fund upgrades using annual energy and operational savings. The contract eliminates the need for any upfront capital investment.
Multiple energy saving facility improvements include replacing steam heating, modernizing chilled water systems, new plumbing and electrical, and reducing water consumption. The contract is valued at $29 million.
“In addition to reduced energy consumption and utility costs, modernized heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems will provide better temperature control and improved building ventilation,” said Brian Decker, mechanical engineer in the Installation Planning and Maintenance Division.
Work on the future home of the software sustainment mission is underway in Building 5, Bays 1 and 3. Monahan noted an aggressive demolition and construction timeline with scheduled completion dates of December and February, respectively.
Meanwhile, contractors are reskinning the walls and correcting a host of small problems in Building 9. As part of a $2.5 million project, workers will install a new roof and remove two paint booths.
Building 17 will be finished as soon as the new alerting system is installed. Personnel will move into the new fire department facility after winter. Officials are also working with security specialists to convert the space in Building 16 to meet their mission requirements.
Over the next two years repairs are scheduled for Building 1C, Bays 1 and 3, and Building 3, Bay 1. The projects will consist of new lighting, painting and flooring. There’s even a five-phase project to replace the water, storm and waste water distribution systems within the installation.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.
About 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
| Date Taken: | 12.19.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2016 07:57 |
| Story ID: | 218097 |
| Location: | TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 155 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Tobyhanna Army Depot builds a future, by Jacqueline Boucher, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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