Bristol Armed Forces Reserve Center
Bristol, PA
Nike silo? just fill it.
This $24 million design-build project northeast of Philadelphia included many opportunities for Harkins to bring our process and problem-solving approach to bear. After demolishing the former Reserve Center, Harkins constructed a modern building that houses training facilities and heated storage, a vehicle maintenance building, and two unheated storage buildings.
During preconstruction, our Structured Plan Review® allowed the final set of drawings to include responses to all of the Corps of Engineers’ comments, and final drawings were available prior to the start of the building foundation. We developed a light gauge metal roof truss design that minimized heavier gauge structural steel, supported the roof deck, and allowed for the support of the mechanical and electrical rough-ins in a cost-effective manner. A U-shaped mock-up of the exterior wall was constructed to demonstrate the various exterior wall types and the transitions between them. This ensured the details and quality were acceptable to both Harkins and Corps of Engineers.
How Harkins Made a Difference
- During demolition, one Nike missile silo remained on the site, serving as a holding tank for the local fire department. Harkins demolished the top three feet and then the backfilled the silo with crushed concrete and masonry from the existing buildings. This approach earned the project a LEED exemplary performance credit for diverting over 95% of debris from landfills.
- We had a goal of 73% of subcontracting dollars to small businesses and achieved a phenomenal 91%.
- We overcame early delays in the project due to local permitting and additional asbestos discovered in the existing buildings to finish within the adjusted contract time and within budget.
Harkins maintained effective working relationships with all parties involved throughout construction and closeout to overcome all project issues and implement changes as requested.
Awards & Certifications
USGBC
LEED for NC – Silver (Built to)