The December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor was, until 2001, the most significant foreign attack the country had faced. The event lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and at least 1,200 were injured. Eighteen American ships were destroyed or sunk and another 300 aircrafts were destroyed or damaged.

Despite that devastating moment, today Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is the headquarters of the US Pacific Fleet. Pearl Harbor is a vital site for the US Navy, accommodating the largest ships in the fleet and housing more than 160 commands.

Wiley|Wilson is proud to have provided comprehensive A-E services at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam since 2012, most recently for Building 2060H. Our work has included a site investigation, site assessment report, construction documents, and construction phase services for the renovation and conversion of nearly 5,000 SF of office space.

Originally constructed in the late 1930s as an aircraft hangar, Building 2060H is nearly 76,000 SF. Over the years, its purpose has changed and the space has undergone numerous renovations. Today most of the site is used for office and training purposes. In 2012, the Wiley|Wilson design team assisted with suite modifications that included interior and exterior upgrades for security improvements, ADA accessibility, a more functional layout design, and additional workstations to meet tenant growth.

The team faced unique challenges, including establishing secure IT systems that would be accessible at each office and workstation based on security threat levels. One of the biggest challenges, though, was coordinating with local Pearl Harbor historical review authorities to preserve the exterior windows and facades. The historical significance of the site is recognized worldwide — a fact not lost on the design team.

Wiley|Wilson team members traveled to the base in early November to perform on-site activities. Jessica Inge, a member of the team, said it was an honor to work on a site of such historical significance.

“There was a deep feeling of reverence just walking around in a space that dates back to this moment in our American History that everyone is so familiar with,” she said. “When you fly into Hawaii, the islands seem to appear out of nowhere and it struck me how calculated and deliberate the 1941 attack was. To strategically target this base in the middle of the Pacific — literally half a world away — really drove home the idea that it was a literal World War, being fought on all corners of the globe.”

Read more about Pearl Harbor Day and this year’s commemoration here.