Everything from a single source: BB Government Services GmbH and PORR Hochbau West GmbH are delighted to have been awarded a major contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. On 3 November 2023, the ground-breaking ceremony for the turnkey construction of the new Army Lodge took place in the Smith Barracks of the Baumholder garrison. The modern and comfortable hotel for military personnel and their families is scheduled for completion in October 2026.
The new Baumholder Army Lodge is located in the immediate vicinity of the "Lagerhof Inn", a former spa hotel from the 1930s, which previously served as short-term accommodation as well as an arrival and departure hotel for US military personnel. With more than 75 modern rooms, including 50 family-friendly suites, as well as a fitness centre, the new hotel will not only offer contemporary comfort, but will also more than double the existing capacity at the site. The turnkey construction of the building with a gross volume of 24,830 m3 and a gross floor area of 5,889 m2 is being carried out hand in hand by PORR Hochbau West and BBGS. Turnkey here really means ready for occupancy, as the project also includes the complete furnishing with permanent furniture.
Building construction and government services expertise come together
The new Army Lodge in Baumholder is the first major construction project to be awarded under an accelerated procedure as part of a partnership agreement between the US armed forces and the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB). "We are very proud of this contract. Based on our decades of experience in construction and infrastructure projects for the U.S. government, the client knows that it will receive a perfect overall package of quality, adherence to schedules as well as transparent and collaborative partnership," said BBGS Managing Director Andreas Ehret. As with all U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, the Primavera 6 software tool is being used for construction scheduling and project management. Lean Construction is also being used to ensure smooth project coordination and communication within the construction team. "Together with BBGS, we are combining our expertise and experience in handling US government projects with our competence in building construction, thus making optimum use of synergies," says Peter Dimed, Frankfurt Branch Manager at PORR Hochbau West GmbH.
Many years of collaboration guarantee on-time completion
Both television and national newspapers reported on the ground-breaking ceremony, as the project is of great importance for Rhineland-Palatinate and the region. In addition to the approximately 10,000 inhabitants, 8,000 members of the US Army live in the municipality of Baumholder. "The construction of this building is once again a commitment to the Baumholder site, a commitment to our soldiers and their families here and, last but not least, a commitment to the municipality," said Colonel Reid Furman, Commander of the US Army Garrison Rhineland-Palatinate, on this occasion.
