Contractor continues to make progress on new Fort McCoy barracks despite winter’s grip

Photo By Scott Sturkol | Construction work is shown Jan. 24, 2022, in the 1600 block of the cantonment area at Fort McCoy, Wis., on a second new transient training troops barracks project on the post. The $18.8 million project was awarded to L.S. Black Constructors, which is the contractor building the first barracks building, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Resident Office at Fort McCoy. The new contract was awarded Sept. 29, 2020, and the notice to proceed was issued Oct. 28, 2020. The contract duration is scheduled for completion in 780 calendar days. Currently contract completion is scheduled for December 2022. The barracks is different than the traditional barracks located throughout the installation. This new building will be four stories and able to house 400 people in approximately 60,000 square feet. The building will be built with the latest in construction materials and include state-of-the-art physical security and energy-saving measures. The project also is part of the Fort McCoy Master Plan that looks at continuously upgrading the installation’s infrastructure to be prepared for the future. The Army Corps of Engineers is managing the project. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

01.27.2022

Story by Scott Sturkol                                                                                             

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

In a Jan. 21 update, Ken Green with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office at Fort McCoy said the construction of a second transient training troops barracks had reached 63 percent complete despite ongoing snow and bitter cold weather during January 2022.

Throughout early and mid-January, weather at Fort McCoy has included several days of snowfall and many days were temperatures were well below-zero. But, the $18.8 million project that was awarded to L.S. Black Constructors has continued right on schedule, Green said.

The barracks, funded in fiscal year 2020, resembles another barracks that was also built by L.S. Black that is adjacent to this project in the 1600 block at Fort McCoy’s cantonment area. It’s different than traditional barracks located throughout the installation in that it’s four stories tall and will be able to house 400 people in approximately 60,000 square feet.

Green said Jan. 21 that current work includes interior steel stud placement, masonry work, interior sheetrock installation, air barrier installation, sheetrock finishing, and painting.

“Current completion date is scheduled for December 2022,” Green wrote in the update.

The long-term weather outlook also shows a continuing cold-weather pattern through the rest of January and into February, but work is expected to continue on as scheduled, according to the Army Corps of Engineers office.

Large construction projects like this barracks projects also contributes to the economic impact of local communities, Fort McCoy Garrison officials said. Fort McCoy’s total economic impact for fiscal year (FY) 2020 was an estimated $1.479 billion, above the $1.184 billion reported for FY 2019. A similar amount is expected for FY 2021.

Also for FY 2020, the economic impact for the fiscal year also included $50.3 million in military construction on post. For FY 2021, that figure should also be similar, officials said.

The Fort McCoy Executive Summary, available on the installation website, www.home.army.mil/mccoy, also shows the installation makes continuous improvements to provide a plethora of training capabilities for service members.

“Throughout the last decade, Fort McCoy experienced unprecedented facility modernization, training area development and expansion, increased training and customer support capability, and improved quality-of-life opportunities,” the summary states. “From unmanned aerial vehicles, to urban training facilities, to live-fire ranges and virtual-training environments, Fort McCoy is prepared to meet the training needs of the Army in the 21st century.”

In the overview about the installation in the 2021 Fort McCoy Guide, it further details what the post has to offer.

“Fort McCoy’s mission is to strengthen Total Force Readiness by serving as a training center, mobilization force generation installation, and strategic support area. As a Total Force Training Center, Fort McCoy’s primary responsibility is to support the training and readiness of military personnel and units of all branches and components of America's armed forces. Fort McCoy is a Mobilization Force Generation Installation prepared to support contingency operations as ordered.

“As a world-class installation, Fort McCoy’s continuing goal is to provide excellent customer service and facilities and to enhance the quality of life for all who train, work, play, or live here,” the overview states. “The Fort McCoy community truly is unique, with active, reserve, and civilian components working together for the betterment of all facets of life at the installation.”

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, at the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service at https://www.dvidshub.net/fmpao, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”

• Date Taken: 01.27.2022
• Date Posted: 01.27.2022 12:11
• Story ID: 413527
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US