SCHUMER ANNOUNCES WEST POINT PROJECT SET TO RECEIVE $105 MILLION RENOVATION OF MILITARY ACADEMY'S HISTORIC SCIENCE FACILITY
Schumer Announces Army Has Awarded $105 Million Contract To Fully Renovate Bartlett Hall at West Point; Construction Will Upgrade Classrooms, Laboratories, Protective Systems and More
Schumer: Investment Will Propel West Point's Historic Science Facility Into 21st Century
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Army has awarded a $105 million contract to fully renovate and expand the West Point Military Academy's Bartlett Hall, a multi-purpose science facility. Walsh Construction Company will execute this contract, which includes the renovation of the 245,000 square foot Bartlett Hall, and create an expanded and modernized science center for biology, chemistry and physics programs. Construction is set to be completed by September 30, 2015. Schumer applauds the Army's investment at West Point.
"This contract is great news for West Point as it will help upgrade and expand the Academy's science facility and research capabilities to better meet the needs of West Point's advanced biology, chemistry and physics programs," said Schumer. "I applaud the Army for selecting West Point's project in their allocation of these funds, and will continue to support investments that help our college and universities' science programs meet the needs of the 21st century."
Schumer announced that this Army contract will fund the second phase of the project to renovate and reconfigure Bartlett Hall, the science facility at West Point. Through this contract, this historic building will benefit from upgrades including classroom and laboratory renovations, seismic upgrades, asbestos and lead paint abatement, antiterrorism and force protection (ATFP) measures, connection to the energy monitoring and control system (EMCS) and building information systems. In addition, this contract will include facility improvements such as paving sidewalks and curbs, gutter upgrades and other site improvements.
The project is essential to West Point as it will provide tailored research facilities for the Photonics Research Center and for department faculty. Bartlett Hall was built in 1914, and since then science, technology and instructional techniques have evolved significantly, as has the size of the Corps of Cadets utilizing the facility. While the building has been refurbished over the last century, the majority of the facility has never been completely renovated or upgraded. The facility is deficient with respect to utilities, communications, life safety, and security systems, and this contract will alleviate those problems.
The Photonics Research Center Lab does not currently possess many features required of a high-caliber laser research facility. The limited faculty research space was designed in the early 1980s when the Academy had a predominantly rotating military faculty. The addition of civilian scholars to the faculty requires restructuring the research facilities and office space within each department to accommodate expanded research requirements placed on the faculty. Much of this research directly supports cadet education and the DoD Research and Development community.