Two Wiley|Wilson projects — the Wargaming Center at Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center — were recently named Engineering Excellence Award winners by the Virginia chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC VA). The ACEC VA’s annual competition honors those engineering projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement, and value.

“We are proud to have been honored by ACEC VA with these awards for two outstanding projects,” said Neil McSweeney, President and CEO. “The Wargaming Center features forward-looking design techniques that will enable our military to simulate combat environments, so they can successfully anticipate conflicts while the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center integrates modern technology with a healing approach to set a new standard in the care industry.”

The Wargaming Center at Marine Corps Base Quantico was named a Grand Award Winner and is now eligible for ACEC VA’s Pinnacle Award. The Pinnacle Award is presented to the top project in the Commonwealth and is eligible for the ACEC National Grand Prize.

Wargaming Center at Marine Corps Base Quantico
“[Marines] are going to be better prepared to fight and thrive in combat because of the work that is done in this Center,” said General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Wiley Wilson | Burns & McDonnell Joint Venture was contracted with NAVFAC Washington to provide planning, DD1391, and full design services for the design-bid-build delivery of the P-719 Wargaming Center. The new, 100,400 square foot Wargaming Center is outfitted with enough instructional space to conduct wargame planning and execution to support various Marine Corps sections, from Combat Development Command to Operating Forces to Headquarters. The new facility allows users to simulate and model future environments while also connecting digitally to the central node in a network configuration. It is equipped to receive, store, transmit, and share electronically highly classified information. The Wargaming Center houses an auditorium, gaming classrooms, cell rooms, breakout rooms, game cell rooms, white cell rooms, conference room, Secret Internet Protocol Router spaces, production room, graphics production room, and other secure spaces.

“The new Wargaming Center provides our military a unique, specialized setting for conducting some of its most vital strategy-based learning,” said Abbe Little, Vice President and Alexandria Office Manager. “This space gives our military an intellectual edge in what will be tomorrow’s battles. We are honored that ACEC VA chose to recognize our design, but even more honored that we were able to provide such a critical space for our Marine Corps.”

Along with the new Center and a 135,000 square foot parking garage, the team designed a new underground primary voltage feeder from the Cinder City switchgear to serve two, new, pad-mounted SF6 distribution switches. On the structural side, steel framing is enclosed by non-load bearing masonry walls with a deep, pile-supported foundation system. The structure is configured to support the raised access flooring throughout the building. Due to the nature of the work performed at the Wargaming Center, a robust and highly secure network system is required. The design includes extensive information systems like SIPR Network (SIPRNET), Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET), and site security connectivity. Facility-related control systems include cybersecurity features in accordance with current Department of Defense criteria.

Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center
Wiley|Wilson teamed with Orcutt|Winslow to provide planning, architectural and engineering design services, and construction administration services for the design of a brand-new veterans care center in Virginia Beach, VA. The team introduced the concept of the Veterans Home as a Community Living Center (CLC) — a model that has become popular for the many benefits it offers to residents, staff, and the broader community. The CLC concept shifts the focus of care in nursing homes from a solely medical-centered model to a resident-centered one. The Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center embraces the concept of small house care. At the heart of the new facility lies a community living center flanked on either side by a “neighborhood.” Each neighborhood has 4 household wings and these wings house 16 private resident rooms for a total of 128 beds. The community living center houses administrative and staff areas, and medical and support services for residents. Each household wing contains a dining and kitchen area, a den, living room, and outdoor, enclosed spaces for residents to enjoy safely.

“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our design team, healthcare providers, and everyone who helped bring this vision to life,” said Ron Smiley, Chief Technology Officer. “Most of all, though, it reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of care for our veterans.”

To provide these men and women with the care and attention they deserve, the space features advanced amenities not typically found in other skilled nursing facilities. Interior spaces receive daylight, through clerestories, windows, and glass storefront. Ceilings are raised through the facility to promote well-being. The mechanical systems include VRF and 100-percent outdoor air systems. Sophisticated technology systems ensure the safety of residents with memory care issues while giving them the freedom to travel through large areas of the facility without risk of elopement. The facility is designed to maximize the sense of community, with on-site amenities like a library and barbershop. Ample daylighting, walking trails, and courtyards that are completely enclosed by the building itself further complement the residents’ experience.