Marpac Construction
Port Operations Tower and Offices, Naval Station Bremerton
Owner: U.S. Navy
Architect:MulvannyG2 Architecture
Marpac’s construction of a two-story tower atop a seven-story building was complicated by an 11-month schedule.
The Navy commissioned the $1.8 million tower as a homeland security effort following the 2001 terrorist attacks. The tower’s location — 80 feet above the ground and 200 feet from the water — allows for a view of ship movements along the entire waterfront.
The tower was built on top of the Fleet and Industrial Supply Building — a structure that remained occupied during the construction process. Marpac crews had to coordinate penetrations through the building below, completing some work after regular work hours.
Since the building had no elevators that reached the roof, a new high-security elevator system was built. Because of the layout of the existing building, the elevator’s penthouse and vestibule had to be built 60 feet away from the tower, with an exterior elevated steel walkway connecting the two.
The project’s proximity to the water often complicated construction efforts. Winds were monitored daily, and strong gusts frequently caused construction shutdowns.
The project was one of the first at the complex to use a fast-track design-build approach.
No medical-only or time-loss injuries occurred on the project.
Reid Middleton was the engineer. ABC members on the job included Air Systems Engineering, Lakeridge Plumbing and Mechanical, Otto Rosenau and Assoc., CHG Building Systems, Coast Crane Co., Ketchikan Drywall, Audio Acoustics and Nuprecon.