Page 33 - College Planning & Management, March 2019

Facility Focus HISTORIC RENOVATIONS
TOP RIGHT TWO PHOTOS © BRENDAN MCGIBNEY PHOTOGRAPHY
U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Pershing Barracks
PERSHING BARRACKS, located at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in West Point, NY, was
originally constructed for academic purposes from 1891 to 1895. This historic structure
is significant for its architecture, which incorporates elements of Gothic, Tudor, and Romanesque styles, and for its association with the infamous architect Richard Morris Hunt. Kokolakis Contracting’s commitment to preserve the historic integrity of this build- ing was top priority during the preservation process and while updating the infrastruc- ture to a modern state-of-the-art facility.
The 124,692-square-foot, four-story cadet housing facility involved complex up- grades to meet current codes and achieve
LEED Silver certification. Energy-efficient features include exterior wall spray-foam insulation; insulated windows; electronic controls for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); LED lighting; and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The HVAC up- grade was especially challenging since the building did not originally have systems in place. As a building that was first complet- ed in 1895, its structural layouts were not configured with ample space or passage- ways for modern building systems. Structural flooring consists of terra-
cotta masonry archways that span between floor beams as low as 7 feet/7 inches, with 60-inch-thick structural brick masonry walls located throughout the floors. As a result,
the MEP coordination was one of the largest challenges on the project. Using Building Information Modeling (BIM), the ductwork, piping, and conduit were laid out in a man- ner to reduce challenges and conflicts.
Another historic preservation aspect was restoring the two faces of the clock tower. The inner workings, which have
not been operable for some time, will be replaced with a new electric model. The clock tower’s missing gargoyle will also be returned to his proper location at the top of the clock tower.
The newly renovated Pershing Barracks was completed at the end of 2018, ulti- mately accommodating 270 cadets and six officers. CPM
MARCH 2019 / COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT 33
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KOKOLAKIS CONTRACTING