ALABAMA STATE EDITION
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72 Florence
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Huntsville
20 Decatur
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A Supplement to:
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Gadsden
78 59 Anniston
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Birmingham Bessemer
82 Tuscaloosa
65 280
20 82 Auburn
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Selma
Phenix City
Montgomery
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January 4 2017
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Vol. XXX • No. 1
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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”
Dothan
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Mobile
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Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479
Ala. Sees Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center By Cindy Riley
Construction efforts continue at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., on Phase III of the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). TEDAC was established in 2003 to serve as the single interagency organization to receive, fully analyze and exploit all terrorist improvised explosive devices of interest to the United States. The Center performs IED exploitation using both established and novel forensic techniques and performs these activities in a high-capacity, multi-agency, collaborative environment using experienced scientists, engineers, and technicians. “This project is so interesting because of all the security requirements, and knowing that we are assisting with fighting the war on terror,” said Crystal Lucas, P.E., project manager of general contractor Turner Construction, an international construction services company that maintains an office in Huntsville. “The biggest challenge was meeting the aggressive schedule on a design-build project with client-driven changes based on real-time needs.” Composed of 30 partner agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, TEDAC was formerly based at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va. The relocation to Alabama centralizes the government’s efforts regarding IEDs and terrorism. Redstone Arsenal is home to the FBI’s Hazardous Devices School, the ATF’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research and other operations. In February 2016, James Comey, FBI Director, joined Alabama U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby and Lt. General Larry Wyche in a ribbon cutting that officially opened the new TEDAC facilities. Greg Carl, TEDAC director also was in attendance, along with other officials. The latest construction taking place is a significant addition, according to Chris Colster, a public affairs officer of the U.S. Army Garrison, Redstone. “We welcome the increasing FBI presence on Redstone Arsenal, and appreciate the value that they add to our team, community and our nation’s defense,” said Colster. “As we transition as ‘America’s Garrison of the Future,’ the synergy that exists here will be more and more critical, and the expansion of the FBI TEDAC brings new and needed capability to our team.” The current multi-million dollar project taking shape is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Turner Construction has worked on numerous USACE projects in the Huntsville area and on Redstone Arsenal’s campus. The TEDAC job was awarded in April 2015, with Phase
CEG CORRESPONDENT
III construction expected to be completed by mid-March 2017. Work began on site in August 2015, with design work starting in May 2015. “The repository is substantially complete, and everything is going fine,” said Lucas. “The repository is in final finishes and final cleaning stage. The collaboration center and visitors screening facility are in the MEP rough-in stage.”
Lucas said attention to detail is crucial during construction, adding that the work is different from more traditional projects her firm has been responsible for completing. “The security requirements and access to the site make this project unique, along with all the STC-rated walls.” Wade Wooley, P.E., area engineer, North Regional Area see TEDAC page 6
Turner Construction photo
Construction efforts continue at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., on Phase III of the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC).