$14.5 million contract finalized for permanent -party dormitory Published Sept. 10, 2009 Naval Facilities Engineering Command JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A $14.5 million contract was awarded Aug. 28 by Naval Facilities Engineering Command to Anderson Drace Joint Venture of Gulfport for construction of a dormitory at Keesler. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract calls for the construction of a 144-room dormitory for permanent-party junior enlisted Airmen. "We are very pleased to get this project started to bring our Airmen's dorms up to the most modern standards and bring them into a campus near our new base exchange and commissary as laid out in one of our several area development plans," said Brig. Gen. Ian Dickinson, 81st Training Wing commander. "The new dorm will be built in the old North Pinehaven housing area next to the Meadows Drive Gate," said Col. Jeffrey Jackson, 81st Mission Support Group commander. "Eventually we will have three new dorms in that area." The facility design will incorporate anti-terrorism/force protection features, Energy Policy Act 2005 criteria and seek silver certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building rating system. For LEED certification, the U.S. Green Building Council provides a suite of standards for environmentally-sustainable construction. The dormitory project includes construction of a multi-story dormitory unit with reinforced concrete foundation, with slabs, masonry walls, brick veneer, standing seam metal roof system, mechanical/electrical systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire protection system, and security system. The contract also provides site improvements, including storm water management connection, parking with sidewalks and landscaping, excavation, fill and demolition. The expected completion date for work under this contract is June 2011. Susan Brink, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and Susan Griggs, Keesler News editor, contributed to this report.