GROUND BREAKS FOR 170,355-SQUARE-FOOT ARFC, FMS PROJECT

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA — Opus Design Build and Opus Northwest have broken ground for the construction of a 170,355-square-foot Armed Forces Readiness Center (ARFC) and Field Maintenance Shop (FMS), which will be located at 1500 Wright Brothers Blvd. in Cedar Rapids. The more than 113,506-square-foot ARFC will contain a 9,000-square-foot assembly hall, a full kitchen, multi-purpose classrooms, a weapons simulation facility, storage and administrative space, road access to additional developments and parking for 560 vehicles. The 56,749-square-foot FMS will feature 10 work bays, one wash bay, an electronic communications bay, electronics repair facilities, a multi-purpose classroom/training facility, a small arms repair facility and parking for 67 vehicles. Designed by Opus Architects & Engineers, the $38 million project is seeking LEED Gold certification. Completion is scheduled for September 2011. The project is 100 percent federally funded, with support from the State of Iowa for Iowa Communications Network connectivity.