CST Ready Building Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting

Yaeger Architecture’s Christina Przygoda attended the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the recently completed CST Ready Building in Connecticut on June 12^th.  Yaeger led design as part of the design-build team headed by Sealaska Constructors for this new construction project.  The Ready Building supports functions including administrative, training, and operations of the Connecticut Army National Guard (CTARNG) 14th Civil Support Team (CST) at Camp Hartell, Connecticut.  The facility provides a secure, functional, efficient, durable, and low-maintenance center of operations. Functional spaces include: office, administrative, supply areas, classrooms, conference rooms, tool rooms, and storage. There are four rows of ready bays and storage for special equipment. This new building has many infrastructure improvements including site work, roadway, parking, utility, and drainage.

The scope of work included civil and site design, architecture, comprehensive interior design including structural interior design and FF&E, mechanical systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, telecommunications systems, fire suppression, fire alarm and mass notification.  The project complies with all local, State, and Federal codes, regulations, standards, and references and was designed to LEED Silver level and is pursuing certification.

The 14th CST unit consists of 22 Connecticut Air and Army Guardsmen who provide support to civilian authorities when chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high explosive threats may exist.

“To see all of our wants and desires being worked into this building, it’s a big deal for us,” Maj. Matthew Silver, Commander of the 14th Civil Support Team, said. “It’s exciting.”

There are 57 Civil Support Team Units throughout the country and this CST Ready Project at Camp Hartell is the first building designed specifically for their mission. Based on the success of this project, the National Guard projects many others could be constructed over the next few years.

Attendees at the official opening and ribbon cutting included Maj. Gen. Thaddeus J. Martin, Adjutant General and Commander of the Connecticut National Guard; Gov. Dannel P. Malloy; Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman; Brig. Gen. Fran Evon, Assistant Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard; Maj. Matthew Silver, Commander of the 14th CST and representatives of various design and construction firms associated with the project.

Thaddeus Martin retired on June 30^th and Brig. Gen. Francis J. Evon, Jr. is now the Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard.