USA: “Topping Out” Ceremony for MSG Complex Gathers Naval, AF Leaders

United States Air Force and Navy leadership gathered Jan. 11 to attend a “Topping Out” ceremony for the Mission Support Group (MSG) Complex currently under construction at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), La.

A “Topping Out” is typically held when the last piece of structural steel is placed on a building under construction. This is often considered a significant milestone for construction.

“The final structural steel beam was painted white in the web of the steel and the contractor, subcontractors, members of the Resident Officer In Charge of Construction (ROICC) office, and the customer (MSG) signed the white painted portion of the steel,” said Barksdale ROICC Lt. Cmdr. Gabriel Parrilla. “The steel beam was then hoisted and bolted into place and is now a permanent part of the structure.”

Construction of the MSG Complex is administered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast’s ROICC Barksdale on behalf of the 2d Mission Support Group, 2d Bomb Wing (BW), and Barksdale AFB.

 “This project has run smooth,” said Parrilla. “There were no lost time accidents and the project is on schedule.”

The MSG complex will consolidate multiple administrative functions of the 2d Mission Support Group including: 2d Mission Support Group Headquarters, 2d Force Support Squadron Headquarters, 2d Contracting Squadron, Base Personnel Office, and Family Support Center. In addition, the facility will also house the following 2d Bomb Wing functions: 2d Comptroller Squadron, 2d BW Safety, Retiree Affairs, and 2d BW Legal Affairs Tax Counseling Office.

The complex will be a three story steel frame structure with reinforced concrete foundation, floor slabs, reinforced masonry walls and a sloped metal roof. The project includes a wet sprinkler, fire alarm, telephone and energy monitoring systems for the entire facility. The site construction includes landscaping, parking lot and access pavement.

The project will incorporate applicable U.S. Air Force and Global Strike Command high performance green building (HPGB) objectives addressing site design, water use, energy use reduction, building commissioning, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

The building will be certified by the United States Green Building Council as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver. LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven program that provides third-party verification of green buildings. NAVFAC has a longstanding history of construction LEED facilities building on its strong commitment to the environment and energy conservation measures such as LEED. Comprehensive and flexible, LEED addresses the entire lifecycle of a building.

This $17.9 million military construction project was awarded March 26, 2012 to L.C. Gaskins Construction Company, Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla. The project is expected to be complete by December 10, 2013.

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Naval Today Staff, January 25, 2013; Image: POND