By Honolulu District Public Affairs
Honolulu District and contractor Nan Inc. held a traditional Hawaiian site blessing and groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 4 in Quad B at Schofield Barracks to signify the start of construction and renovation for three of the quad’s four buildings – 156, 157 and 158.
Kahu Curt Pa’alua Kekuna from Kawaiahaʻo Church, Honolulu led the site blessing and groundbreaking ceremonies.
Guest speaker for the event was Honolulu District Commander Lt. Col. Thomas D. Asbery, who told more than 50 guests Quad B was one of the first built on post.
“The Schofield quads were constructed just prior to World War I with the exception of A Quad, which was constructed in 1987,” Asbery said. “Buildings 156 and 158 of Quad B were constructed in 1914 and originally housed the 4th Cavalry. At that time 1,500 Soldiers lived in an open bay barracks design.”
he current project, scheduled to be completed in late 2015, will renovate the unaccompanied enlisted personnel (UEPH) spaces to house 330 enlisted soldiers in one-plus-one apartment style configurations. The $68.3 million design-bid-build construction contract was awarded to Nan Inc. in July 2013. Upon completion the UEPH will be occupied by the Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division.
“Nan is the right contractor to do this work,” Asbery said. “They successfully completed the renovations of Quad C in 2007 and are currently working on renovating Quad D. They have a proven record of success and constructed numerous facilities for the garrison of the highest quality. I’m proud to have them as part of our team.”
Asbery added that the initial portion of the renovation and construction will focus on improving environmental condition of the three buildings.
Installation of long-term energy-saving features such as solar water heaters, high-efficiency appliances and central air conditioning - elements that improve the Soldiers’ quality of life - will be installed during the renovations.
“These environmental innovations and other sustainability components translate into real dollar savings for the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii and the U.S. Army well into the future,” Asbery said.