US Forest Service Umpqua NF Interagency/Supervisor's Office

Roseburg, Oregon

Following the BLM Colocation Feasibility Study, AKS was tasked by the USFS to provide the complete design for the new Umpqua NF office building. Currently the Umpqua National Forest (NF) Supervisor’s Office is leasing a facility in Roseburg and has been since 1985. The purpose of this project is to design an Interagency/Supervisor’s Office building for the Umpqua NF to occupy, so that the USFS no longer needs to lease a facility. The new building will be collocated at the existing Government owned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roseburg District Office campus.

The AKS team performed a field investigation to confirm existing site conditions followed by a Charrette to review concept alternatives and refine the building program. An Engineering Report and Site Development Plan was then developed that described the selected concept alternative and provided a preliminary cost estimate. The Engineering Report selected concept alternative was then further refined into a 30% Concept Design, 60% Design, 95% Design, and Final Design.

The new approximately 15,000 SF facility will be two stories with a partial daylight basement. It will also include a breezeway connection to the existing BLM building. The basement will house the Umpqua NF Fire Dispatch personnel and building support spaces such as Mechanical, Fire Sprinkler, and IT. The first and second floors will house open and private offices, conference rooms, quiet rooms, copy/supply room, storage, restrooms, and kitchenettes. Site improvements will include utility modifications to accommodate the new facility, emergency generator, new landscaping around the facility with a reworked main entry plaza, and new hardscape exterior ADA ramps and access to the daylight basement.

USFS Forestry & Range Sciences Laboratory Lobby Security Design

La Grande, Oregon

AKS was tasked by the US Forest Service (USFS) as a part of our US Forest Service IDIQ Contract to provide the design for security improvements to the existing La Grande Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory Lobby. Currently staff have to manually open the front door to let in public visitors since the door remains locked during business hours. The purpose of this project is to force public visitors to stop in the Air Lock Vestibule space, check in with a receptionist via transaction window within the Air Lock, and once cleared allow USFS staff to unlock the door into the facility remotely to enter the facility and then be escorted through by USFS personnel.

AKS provided complete construction documents for the renovation to the entry area for the security upgrades. The design includes reconfiguration of front office space into the front liner reception, a transaction window into the Air Lock from the front liner reception, build out of a new private office in the existing reception area, required mechanical and electrical modifications to support the reconfiguration of spaces, and a new entry gable roof to provide better vision from the reception area to the entry. The design also included phases in order to meet the project budget. The project includes a base bid and bid options which can be completed at a later date once additional funds are available.

US Forest Service MSHNVM Fire System & Septic Design

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington

As part of our USFS IDIQ Contract, AKS provided fire system evaluations for two facilities at the US Forest Service Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument (MSHNVM). The two facilities include the Johnston Ridge Observatory (JRO) and the Coldwater Science and Learning Center (SLC). The purpose of these evaluations was to investigate and assess the interior condition of the existing piping using recognized industry standards and fire protection system experience. The results of the evaluation identify upgrades necessary to improve the reliability and longevity of the systems so that they can continue to protect the facilities for the foreseeable future.

Also included, was a study to determine the soil evaluation and proposed location for a new septic system and drain field for an existing bunkhouse and duplex at Coldwater. Following these studies was the preparation and completion of construction packages detailing the repairs to the existing fire systems and the septic field design. 

US Forest Service FSL Fire & Intercom Systems Study

Corvallis, Oregon 

As part of our USFS IDIQ Contract, AKS provided evaluations/studies of the existing fire sprinkler and public address systems for the USFS at their Forestry Sciences Laboratory Facility (FSL) and documented the findings in Engineering Reports. Ultimately, these reports will be used to determine the scope of work for the future design task orders related to the fire and public address systems.

The 94,000 SF FSL is the largest natural resource sciences laboratory and second largest laboratory in the USFS. The facility supports seven different research programs: Forest Landscapes and Ecosystems, Landscape Climate Interactions, Aquatic Ecology and Management, Landscape and Ecosystem Management, Vegetation Monitoring Science and Applications, Resilience and Ecosystem Disturbance, and Western Wildland Environment Threat Assessment.

The facility was constructed in multiple phases starting in 1962, with the newest wing constructed in 2012. With the exception of the 2012 wing the older phases of the building have repeatedly failed annual sprinkler system inspections and flow tests. A site visit investigation was performed to gather data, assess existing conditions, and ultimately determine the scope and recommendations to address the fire sprinkler system deficiencies.

In addition, an evaluation/study and Engineering Report was completed to assess the existing speaker system in the older portions of the building. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and recommendations for providing a building wide public address system for the older portions of the building that currently do not have one.

US Forest Service Maybeso-Hollis Wastewater System Design

Hollis, Alaska

As part of our USFS IDIQ Contract, AKS provided project management for the Maybeso-Hollis wastewater system design to replace the existing wastewater treatment system with an on-site system. The existing system was installed to support the US Forest Service Maybeso Research Center and neighboring Hollis School. The USFS facility includes a bunkhouse, two one bedroom cabins, and a lab. In addition, a community library, two one bedroom cabins, and a five bedroom duplex are also on the Hollis School property.

The project began with an engineering report investigating three potential options for an on-site system, leach fields, soil mounts, and peak mound. Leach fields and soil mounts were determined unfeasible do to impermeable soils. The chosen peat mount system was developed into a complete construction package.

US Forest Service Forest Headquarters Acoustic Treatment

Vancouver, Washington 

The purpose of this project was to provide an acoustical evaluation of the recently renovated Forest Headquarters Building 987. Areas evaluated included Level 1 and Level 2 open office areas, one Level 1 conference room, and four Level 2 dens. The evaluation process included document review, discussions with facility personnel, and a site visit to review existing conditions and determine the acoustic issues. The findings were documented in a report along with recommendations to mitigate the issues.