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News | Nov. 1, 2017

Operations Center construction three-quarters complete, occupancy scheduled for end of January

By Cathy Hopkins DLA Aviation Public Affairs Office

Defense Logistics Agency employees at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia have been watching the new DLA Aviation Operations Center grow floor-by-floor to a height of five stories over the last two years, while they wait to move into the new state of the art building.

Well, the wait is almost over, according to Lee Scott, co-project manager, Installation Management Division, DLA Installation Operations at Richmond

“The center is 75 percent complete and the move is tentatively scheduled between the end of January and mid-February,” he said.

Scott said the contractor is currently concentrating on finishing up the last of the site work and paving the exterior areas.

“On the interior of the building, the geothermal heating and air conditioning are operational and providing temperature and humidity control to aid with the ongoing wall and paint finishing process,” he said.  

The contractors are also installing carpet and furniture on floors 2 – 4, kitchen equipment in the cafeteria and performing system start-ups on various mechanical and electrical systems.

“Over the next couple of months, they will complete interior finishes and furnishings in preparation for building occupancy,” said Scott. “As the building systems are completed and become operational, they will also be providing training to the [installation operations] personnel that will maintain the building.

The DLA Aviation Operations Center construction will be completed in two phases.  Phase I construction is 252,000 square-feet and will house approximately 875 employees.  Directorates that will occupy the building include: DLA Aviation command group, Command Support Directorate, Customer Operations, Procurement Process Support, Business Process Support, DLA Information Operations at Richmond, DLA Human Resources Services, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1992 and the Base Supply Store.

Once the move is complete, Building 32, Bays A - E will be demolished and have subsequent site work done,” said Alex Vazquez, engineer and co-project manager, Installation Management Division, DLA Installation Operations at Richmond engineer and project manager. “It is part of the contractual work for Phase 1 and demo should take place in the spring-summer 2018 timeframe.”

Phase 2 is in the preliminary design stages. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently evaluating the Phase 2 proposal of the architect-engineering firm that would take Phase 2 to at least the 35 percent design level.  

Vazquez said Phase 2 soil exploratory drillings were completed over the past two weeks.  “The purpose of the drillings was to determine soil conditions in connection to the design of the foundations for Phase 2,” he said. Phase 2 is still planned for construction in FY2020. 

See related stories: DLA Aviation Operations Center construction continues; Ground-breaking, DLA Aviation Operations Center