BREMERTON, Wash. –
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility held two ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new and upgraded shipyard facilities May 6.
The ribbon cuttings signify the upgrade of Building 435 and construction completion of Building 1247, which collectively provide a new environmental laboratory, light industrial work spaces, administrative and personnel support areas, an upgraded fire station, a new employee food services kitchen and a cafeteria.
“We are thrilled about these additions to the shipyard and we can’t wait to see them become fully-functional,” said Capt. Dianna Wolfson, commander, PSNS & IMF during a video recording of the ceremonies, which will be shared with the shipyard community and its partners in celebration of the completed projects. “There’s only a few of us here and we are wearing our masks and maintaining 6 feet of distance and although we aren’t able to have the big celebration we’d hoped for, we’re bringing this news to you via video.”
These major efforts were a collaboration among Naval Base Kitsap, PSNS & IMF, and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest. Both events adhered to strict social distancing guidelines and had all participants wearing masks. The ceremonies were also limited to 10 people, including Capt. Richard Rhinehart, commanding officer of NBK and Capt. Chad Brooks, commanding officer of NAVFAC NW.
"Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest are more than pleased to introduce Building. 435 to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility," said Rhinehart. "The project provides fully renovated spaces for federal fire services to the shipyard within its Controlled Industrial Area. It also provides improved workspaces for PSNS & IMF workers executing its fleet maintenance mission. This project competed amongst several other projects for funding, and its completion adds a significant resource to the Navy's fleet support on NBK-Bremerton.”
Building 435 is located within the National Historic Landmark District and the upgrade project was awarded in 2015.
“The upgrade of Building 435 special project is the first of many projects at PSNS & IMF that meet the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program vision of making a more efficient shipyard by co-locating services needed by the Production Department, the largest shipyard department,” said Production Facilities and Plant Equipment Manager Amy O’Malia, Code 900, Production Resources Department.
The brick-masonry structure is the shipyard’s original fire station and ship service support building. It was built in two major phases, with the two-story fire station being constructed in 1935 and the three-story ship support services portion constructed in 1942.
“The main significance of the many upgrades to Building 435 is increased safety as a result of seismic refitting, newly renovated office space, and superior food preparation and eating areas,” said Engineering Technician Herb Collier, Code 980, Production Engineering and Facilities. “The fire department facilities now support larger trucks and have greatly improved personnel offices and living quarters. The food preparation area is state of the art and the administrative spaces are better suited for today's needs.”
Started in 2018, to the newly-constructed Building 1247 supports the environmental laboratory and its associated health physicists and physical science technicians.
“This means more space for environmental monitoring and a new work area for the nuclear facilities project team. It also provides improved administrative space for radiological controls and nuclear facility engineering personnel,” said Collier.
Building 1247 also meets the SIOP vision by co-locating the nuclear repair facilities in one central location at PSNS & IMF.
Between the two buildings, approximately 315 shipyard personnel will work in 100,517 square feet of refreshed and modernized space.