$600 million barracks replacement projects awarded at North Carolina Marine bases

North Carolina Construction News staff writer

More than $600 million in construction contracts have been awarded to replace nine aging Marine Corps barracks buildings at two military installations in North Carolina.

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) awarded the contracts Sept. 18 for work at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune:

• At Cherry Point, five existing barracks buildings will be demolished and replaced with three multistorey buildings containing more than 700 rooms.
• At Camp Lejeune, four barracks buildings will be demolished and replaced with two new buildings containing more than 380 rooms.

The projects also include utility upgrades and new community and service spaces, including shared kitchens, laundry facilities, multipurpose rooms, 24-hour vending areas, bulk storage and recreation shelters. Construction is being carried out under a new congressional authority allowing the Department of the Navy to use Operations and Maintenance funding to replace failing unaccompanied housing when replacement is considered a more effective long-term option.

“These projects represent a significant investment in the readiness of our Marines and the infrastructure that supports them,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Kilian, commander of NAVFAC. “When Marines live in safe, functional, high-quality facilities, they are better prepared to focus on training, recovery, and mission execution.

“Instead of taking years to execute through the traditional military construction process, this authority allows us to move forward in a matter of months,” he said.

The combined projects will recapitalize Marine Corps infrastructure at the two North Carolina installations while adding more than 1,000 new rooms and associated facilities.

Construction is expected to replace buildings that have reached the point where replacement is considered a more effective option than continued repairs.