GALVESTON, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District partnered with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to complete the $30,063,931 design-build U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility in Corpus Christi, Texas, and will celebrate this milestone with the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector and Office of Field Operations during an open house ceremony Dec. 5.
The district contracted with Huitt-Zollers to provide design and construction support throughout the project.
The multiple-building complex is located on nearly 30 acres and is designed in accordance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification standards to include a geothermal groundwater source central heating and cooling plant that will reduce energy and utility consumption by over 35 percent.
“The new station will magnify our ability to secure our nation’s borders,” said Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa. “The Border Patrol has experienced unprecedented growth since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The new building will provide adequate space for continued expansion and the facilities necessary to increase our effectiveness in preventing terrorists, illegal immigrants and narcotics from progressing further into the United States. Additionally, it will not just be a more efficient way to manage the effectiveness of the operations of CBP, but it is a practical way to manage costs.”
Catamount Constructors Inc., was awarded the contract in October 2010 and began construction in July 2011 on the project, which includes a 35,860-square-feet station, 13,479-square-feet vehicle maintenance facility, 8,400-square-feet warehouse, 775-square-feet dog kennel, vehicle fueling area and a vehicle wash station.
“Our staff provides quality planning, design and construction and project management services to federal agencies to assist them in executing their missions,” said Col. Richard Pannell, USACE Galveston District commander. “We’re proud to have been part of the design and construction of a facility that will achieve LEED Silver certification. Green buildings, such as this one, reduce energy consumption, increase water efficiency and indoor environmental quality as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions – all which contribute to saving taxpayers’ dollars and being good stewards of the environment.”
With its rich heritage in Texas history, the district continues to provide quality planning, design and construction and project management services to local, state and federal agencies that either do not have in-house capabilities or are interested in combining their resources with the Corps’ to create a partnership to support various construction projects that serve our nation and our Armed Forces.
Learn more about the district’s sustainability efforts at http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Missions/Sustainability.aspx . For more news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.