RICHMOND, Va –
About a year-an- a-half ago, if your office or cubicle was located in Building 46 on Defense Supply Center Richmond, you used to be able to look out one of the huge windows and get a birds-eye-view of the Bellwood elk roaming freely.
Steel beams, concrete, purple backer-boarding and crews operating heavy machinery have now replaced that view as construction of Phase 2 of the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Operations Center is in full swing.
Contractors have installed most of the foundation, steel framing and concrete flooring for the massive five-story building that, when finished, will sit next to and mirror Phase I of the Operations Center (Bldg. 46), but not physically connect. Workers have also installed 220 geothermal wells required to support the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system for Phase 2, which will be Building 47.
Over the next several months, contractors will be installing the roofing, exterior walls and rooftop heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units and associated ductwork. Once this is complete, they will begin working on completing the interior of the building.
Construction of Phase 2 officially began February 2021, and is estimated to be completed by December 2023. Spring 2024 is when those scheduled to occupy the new 281,064 square-foot facility will begin the move in process.