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News | Aug. 7, 2020

Defense Supply Center Richmond gets a facelift

By Dominique J. Shelton DLA Aviation Public Affairs Office

Changes are taking place on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, in the form of renovations and upgrades to several facilities.

Defense Logistics Agency Installation Management at Richmond is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all the buildings and land located on center.

“All of our buildings are on established maintenance schedules, which means that we don’t wait for something to go wrong before we fix it,” said Jimmy Parrish, chief, Environmental Management Division, DLA Installation Management Richmond. “However, if something is discovered that needs to be immediately fixed prior to the scheduled maintenance, a work order is submitted, and the repairs are completed.”

The Commonwealth of Virginia has deemed DSCR as a historic site and as such, preservation of the property is an ongoing effort.

“As a historic district, the Department of Historic Resources must approve any work we decide to have done to any of our structures,” Parrish said. “As such, keeping our buildings well-maintained just helps to prevent future challenges and keeps the buildings looking good. Which is something that we are very proud of.”

Parrish said some of the work already completed includes, work done to the wooden frieze boards (a type of trim that is typically installed between the top of a home's siding and the soffit), fascia, gable vent, and wooden belly board on the eastern and western sides of Building 34.

According to Parrish, many of these wooden belly boards had rotted away over the years and families of bats had made their home in the narrow openings near the gable vents.  As a result, many of the boards had to be replaced, repaired and/ or repainted. The bat droppings also had to be removed. The sidewalks adjacent to both the east- and west-side entrances of Building 34 have also been replaced.

In addition extensive work has been done repairing any damaged mortar and brickwork around center.

Parrish said while the coronavirus pandemic has drastically limited the amount of people physically working on center, keeping the center up and running has continued full speed.

“With less people on center, our contractors are able to move about more easily and more efficiently,” he said.

According to Parrish, maintaining the installation is no different than maintaining a home. If you don’t stay on top of things, they will get worse over time.

In addition to the work already completed, he said fiscal 2021 promises to be just as busy with work being done to the Bellwood Club, Bldgs. 70, 201, 41 and 103, better known as the Little Red School House.

Parrish said those working on center will also see Bldg. 37 restored to its original 1941 appearance, as well as the expansion of The Visitor’s Center customer/visitor sign-in area located inside Building 210.