The first of a new generation of Child Development Centers entered service earlier this year at Fort Riley, where more than $1 billion in construction is planned or underway in step with the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division returning from a 10-year station in Germany. Based on a standard design, the day care and preschool are representative of a broader initiative of design standards developed for various Army facilities to not only improve on-base infrastructure and military family resources, but facilities procurement policy that delivers them at less cost, better quality and faster completion using LEED-equivalent design, sustainable materials and conscientious construction management.
An $11.25 million Multiple Award Task Order Contract led to the production of identical 16,000-square-foot (1,486-m2) childcare centers. The contract was awarded to a minority-led joint venture and produced the mid-sized CDC standard design that serves 198 children ranging in age from infants to pre-kindergarten. The facility includes 12 classrooms, a commercial kitchen, staff training room, staff break room, infirmary for sick children and an administrative area. The facilities comply with the Force Protection Act, incorporating numerous CATV surveillance cameras, controlled access and other security provisions.
In line with the military’s emphasis on sustainable construction, the buildings are designed to LEED Silver-equivalent criteria that could potentially lead to LEED Gold or LEED Platinum certification. Systems include natural gas heating with electric air-conditioning equipped with an economizer, variable air volume distribution and carbon dioxide control. High-efficiency water heaters and boilers help reduce gas usage, while low-flow, hands-free water fixtures are expected to save 41 percent of customary water usage. The interior is equipped with T5 lighting with motion sensor controls, and natural daylight floods the space via an atrium and clerestory elements. The site illumination has 90-degree cutoff lenses to minimize light pollution.
Green Label-Plus finishes; epoxy paint; heatwelded, non-wax vinyl flooring; and low-VOC adhesives contributed to the environmentally friendly interior environment. All 90-degree corners were eliminated in favor of safer bull-nose junctures and shielded door hinges were used throughout. Bonus credits were gained for diverting 75 percent of the construction waste for recycling instead of incineration or landfill disposal.
Butler Manufacturing supplied the preengineered metal building and CMR-24 standingseam metal roof system that was insulated to R-28. The walls were insulated to R-19.
Owner: U.S. Army
Design-builder: Joint venture between Caman Construction Co., Kansas City, Mo.
and Strickland Construction Co., Olathe, Kan.
Architect: BNB Design LLC, Lenexa, Kan.
MEP engineer: Lankford & Associates, Kansas City
Metal building and roof: Butler Manufacturing, Kansas City
