The Department of the Navy required the development of a major explosives development facility at the Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center to support the relocation of the Explosives Engineering Detachment from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. The project involved a total of new explosives process testing and storage buildings supporting approximately 180 major pieces of equipment and supporting office space, comprising a total of nine new buildings. The project was designed to comply with the Navy’s blast-resistant and blast-relief requirements. The complex comprises small, highly specialized facilities separated by an appropriate blast radius determined by Explosive Safety Quantity-Distance (ESQD) arcs between the facilities.

MCA completed documentation for the Preliminary Explosives Site Approval (ESA) by the Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity (NOSSA) and DoD Explosives Safety Board (DDESB). This included research and documentation on information regarding the classes and divisions of hazardous materials proposed for each facility; anticipated personnel limits for each facility; type and arrangement of explosives operations and chemical processing equipment; requirements for personnel protective clothing and equipment; and all other operational data required for the design and construction of the necessary facilities. The administration facility was designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification. Site improvements included roads access, utilities, parking, pedestrian circulation, and landscaping.

In its role as A/E 1, MCA provided the preliminary feasibility assessment and concept study, as well as complete RFP design documents for use in the Design-Build Solicitation. MCA continued to support NAVFAC, providing services throughout the entire bidding, final design review and construction period.

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Contact Paul Riley, AIA, NCARB at pvriley@mca.design