Constructing a New ‘Maritime Front Door’ for U.S. Coast Guard Academy

A/Z Corporation

Located on the banks of the Thames River in New London, Connecticut, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is a reflection of those who call it their alma mater – brimming with excellence and pride. However, in 2017, the USCGA Alumni Association Board of Directors determined that one of the buildings on campus, decades-old Pine Hall, no longer met the Academy’s academic, leadership, athletic, recruiting, and boat maintenance needs. After the Board conducted a preliminary feasibility study, they reached out to alumni, parents, and friends to see if they would provide the financial support needed to construct the new Maritime Center for Excellence to take the place of Pine Hall. There was overwhelming support from all, and especially the alumni, making this the largest alumni funded capital project to date.

In May 2021, after overcoming many challenges, the USCGA Alumni Association awarded A/Z the $18.2 million construction contract for the Maritime Center for Excellence. For Don Ross, A/Z’s Director of Integrated Facilities Management and Program Management Services, the project means more than just delivering a new, stateof-the-art facility. A 1977 graduate of the USCGA, Don also served for four years as a civil engineer instructor and rowing coach at the Academy. Don played an important role in the project’s preconstruction phase, having not only an in-depth knowledge of the USCGA’s expectations and mission needs, but also A/Z’s relevant experience and abilities to successfully deliver this project.

“For me, this is the pinnacle of my career at A/Z, and I’ve been here for more than 26 years,” says Ross. “The USCGA take their motto, ‘Semper Paratus-Always Ready,’ to heart, and our project team has adopted that mindset. I’m proud of the team we have, and I’m equally proud of this facility.”

The Maritime Center for Excellence faces true north right along the Thames River, serving as the Academy’s "maritime front door” for visitors traveling by water and a gateway for sailing, ocean engineering, and environmental courses. Constructing a project like this next to the water can present a number of challenges, and among those is environmental protection and stewardship. The team developed and implemented a comprehensive Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to ensure the river was protected from hazardous runoff and silt from the job site. In addition, the wind coming off the river was often fierce and the temperatures were bone chilling, but the team kept the environmental controls in place so work could continue uninterrupted through the harsh winter.

“I would say we’ve been lucky to have the team that we’ve had,” says David Bible, Senior Project Manager. “The level of their engagement and the determination to get the job done, and to do it well, has been second to none.”

The upper deck features a multipurpose welcome center, conference room, offices, and a large open viewing area down to the lower deck boat maintenance shop. The lower level also houses everything needed to keep the USCGA waterfront training fleet in peak operating condition — engineering and science labs, workshops (carpentry, paint/fiberglass, electronics, and engine), and parts storage. The large, environmentally controlled Boat Bay can also hold two L44 sailboats, unlike the old Pine Hall, which could only hold one.

Additionally, the SmithGroup design features a sweeping stainless steel roof framed by large spans of curvilinear glue-laminated (glulam) timbers. Tall glass curtainwall panels and wooden decks wrap around the structure. The building is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. The unique design of the roof, which emulates the shape of a boat hull, is a feature that challenged the team with hundreds of coordinates to ensure the roofline was properly constructed.

“The team has proven that no matter what is put in front of us, we can overcome it,” adds Ross. “We’ve worked with tough site conditions and the building’s challenging geometry, but everybody is enthusiastic about seeing this project through. There won’t be another building like this on the USCGA grounds, at least not in our lifetime. It will be around for over a hundred years, I’m sure.”