MCLB Albany Receives Upgraded Welding and Repair Shop for Military Tactical Vehicles

Haskell completed the design and construction of the new P-947 Welding & Body Repair Shop Facility at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany, Georgia, for NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic. P-947 comprises approximately 56,000 square feet of high-bay space containing large and small open bays for welding and repair of several military tactical vehicles, including Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) and Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs), and a separate administrative space to support the facility’s repair operations.

Highly technical repair work demands highly customized equipment.

Each large and small bay is served by a two-ton jib crane, with 15 total jib cranes installed. Two 35-ton overhead bridge cranes were also installed as the main cranes for hoisting components for vehicle repair. NAVFAC provided highly detailed specifications that required Haskell to work with a crane manufacturer to custom-build and fabricate the overhead cranes to meet the end user’s specifications.

BIM allowed for the successful coordination of complex infrastructure.

To best support the equipment in the shop area, Haskell had to coordinate building systems with the architectural details of the facility precisely. Haskell produced a 3D Parametric Design Model and Record Model. The team also created a Design Facility Data DOR Edited Model & Facility Data Matrix tab from the eOMSI Facility Data Workbook (FDW). Advanced 3D modeling was crucial in early clash detection and successful installation of all infrastructure.

Value engineering provided an opportunity for increased safety and enhanced end-user operations.

Haskell reduced the concrete base of the facility from 12 inches to 10 inches while still meeting strict requirements for withstanding the weight of military vehicles serviced in the shop. Resulting cost savings allowed the team to provide NAVFAC with electrical vaults cast incrementally in the shop’s slab instead of installing them on the wall. The upgrade enables the end user more immediate access and avoids electrical cords stretching from walls across their active workspace. Overall, this change increases productivity by providing a neater, safer workspace for the end user.